Alfonso Cuarón on Whether ‘Disclaimer’ Qualifies for Oscar—Telluride Festival

EXCLUSIVE: Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuarón is contemplating a version of his highly acclaimed seven-hour Apple TV+ project Disclaimer that could qualify for Academy Award consideration.

The work, directed and adapted by Cuarón from Renée Knight’s 2015 novel, focuses on Catherine Ravenscroft, a documentary filmmaker portrayed at different life stages by Leila George and Cate Blanchett. Ravenscroft’s life is turned upside down when she receives a manuscript titled The Perfect Stranger, which reveals a secret she’s kept for two decades.

The seven-part drama made its global debut at the Venice Film Festival and was showcased in two parts at the Telluride Film Festival over Labor Day weekend.

Having watched the series in one sitting, it’s clear that if Disclaimer were a film, it could easily contend for the Academy Award for Best Picture.

While in Telluride, I approached Cuarón as he joined the line for Payal Kapadia’s Cannes winner All We Imagine as Light, and discussed the idea of adapting Disclaimer for Academy Award consideration. Although not fully versed in the Academy’s rules, I believed there might be a possibility.

Cuarón corrected my perception, calling it a “seven-hour film.” I was intrigued by the potential for it to be considered as such, especially given Cuarón’s previous Oscar successes, including wins for Gravity and Roma.

When asked if Disclaimer could be made eligible for the Oscars, Cuarón admitted he’s thought about it but isn’t certain. Exploring this might involve releasing the series in two parts in theaters, with the CGI industry’s best minds possibly hashing out a viable solution.

The extraordinary cast features Cate Blanchett and Leila George, along with outstanding performances from Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville, Sacha Baron Cohen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Louis Partridge in a star-making turn as Jonathan Brigstocke.

Lesser-known talents like Louis Partridge are also shining, with roles in Matthew Vaughn’s Argylle and Netflix’s Enola Holmes. Partridge will star in Netflix’s House of Guinness and an untitled Greta Gerwig project from Chronicles of Narnia.

Only time will tell if Disclaimer will pursue an Oscar, but the excitement for such a possibility is palpable.

Source: Deadline