DVD Screeners are a thing of the past – But leaks aren’t
The last two years have seen a significant decline in DVD screeners being shared on torrent sites. DVDs aren’t sent out as previous years, digital copies shared using a link are being used instead. They are watermarked in a more personal and obvious way, making it trickier to rip and share them. And Covid have made a big impact, and movies have instead premiered on streaming services instead.
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So is there a way to get Oscar screeners?
Yes. The summer season proved people want to go to the cinemas and directors prefer to have their films on big screeners rather than your phone. But the movies which do land on streaming services first are pirated within an hour or two. Hence pirates won’t have to subscribe to all streaming services, they just have to go to their favourite torrent site.
Will we get any screener leaks this year?
It’s possible. And it’s due to two factors – There are titles which will be shared as screeners before they land on streaming sites. And there are still ways to rip a digital screener and blurring out the watermarks. And the pirate scene is still thriving, there’s no lack in groups who want to be first with an unreleased title. Oh, and leaks are still very much happening.
Which movies will be available as screeners in 2022/2023?
A ton. But we’re going to dive deep into the most interesting titles. Mostly because they will get screeners ahead of their official retail release.
Asteroid City
Asteroid City is an upcoming romantic comedy film by Wes Anderson. It is one of the most anticipated movies this year because of its well-established writer, director, and producer and the enormous list of top-class cast members.
“this movie will have larger cast than most other Anderson films”
Not much is known about the plot of this film. According to the official logline, the story takes place in a fictional American desert in the year 1955 and brings to light the Junior Stargazer convention that encourages scholarly competition, romance, drama, comedy, recreation, and more.
As you may already know, Anderson is known to recast actors he is fond of so if you have watched his other films, you can expect to see some familiar faces in Asteroid City. The highlight this time is that this movie will have larger cast than most other Anderson films. The legendary actor Tom Hanks will be making his debut in The Wes Anderson Cinematic Universe. He will be joined by the beautiful Margot Robbie. Anderson regulars Ed Norton and Jason Schwartzman, as well as Scarlett Johansson, Live Schreiber, Maya Hawke, Bryan Cranston, and Jeffry Wright will also be in the film, among others.
With the huge cast and the track record of Wes Anderson, Asteroid City has the potential to be a strong Oscar contender and to leak as an Oscar screener. Last year, Anderson directed one of the top ten best films of 2021. Asteroid City will be his first film not to be registered and distributed by Searchlight Pictures. This time, the ball is in Focus Features’ court to take on the picture and help make it one of the most popular releases. Release date for the film hasn’t been announced yet. So we might see an early leak.
The Fabelmans
The Fabelmans is an upcoming semi-autobiographical movie directed by Steven Spielberg and cowritten by Tony Kushner. It stars Gabriel LaBelle, Set Rogen, Michelle Williams, and Paul Dano, among others.
“It is Spielberg’s most personal film”
Currently, there isn’t much known about the plot of The Fabelmans but it is confirmed that the film is based on Spielberg’s childhood and how his passion for filmmaking caused the struggles he faced in his early years in the career. In an interview, Janusz Kaminski – the longtime cinematographer of Spielberg – said that The Fabelmans is a very emotional film. It tells the story of Spielberg from the age 7-18. It focuses on his parents’ troubled marriage, conundrums with his sisters, anti-Semitic bullying, and especially his passion for filmmaking. It is very revealing about his life and who he is as a filmmaker.
The Fabelmans is set to release in select theaters in New York City and Los Angeles on November 11, 2022, with a nationwide release on 23rd November. At its world premiere, the film earned a loud standing ovation from the audience at Toronto festival, also commonly known as TIFF, predicting eventual Oscar win or at least several nominations. Spielberg as a director needs no introduction. He is considered as one of the greatest directors of Hollywood. He has won three Academy Awards and has been nominated for 19 Oscars to date. Many expect The Fabelmans to be added to that tally at the next year’s Academy Awards and it’s not surprising why. It is Spielberg’s most personal film after all.
Babylon
Babylon is an upcoming new production from Damien Chazelle – the director behind the popular “La La Land” and “First Man”. The famous director is returning after 6 years to take the audience to a trip of Hollywood’s golden era when silent movies transitioned to talkies. If early reports about the film are to be believed, Babylon is going to be one of the best movies of the year.
Not much has been officially revealed about the film so what we know at the moment is still speculative. But there are certain things that have been confirmed. For instance, the film has a huge cast, e.g. Olivia Wilde, Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt, Tobey Maguire, Samara Weaving, Spike Jonze, Max Minghella, Katherine Waterston, and many more. The plot is set in the late 1920s and weaves together storylines from the early decades of Hollywood, which were rather debaucherous. The previous outings of Chazelle have been thoughtful and kinetic and it seems that this upcoming project will continue in the same vein.
Babylon is already being positioned as a solid contender for Oscars. It is a high-profile production written and directed by a famous director, who is considered the youngest to win a Best Director award. “La La Land” and “First Man” are both considered top-notch films and very successful projects of Chazelle and now the director has set his sights on Babylon which boasts a storyline that will certainly appeal to the Academy voters. The film has an end-of-year release date, i.e. December 25, 2022.
Empire Of Light
Empire of Light is an upcoming film by Same Mendes that interweaves cinema, romance, humanity, and history all in one picture. The film is basically a celebration of the cinema, features an amazing cast, and written, directed, and produced by an Oscar-winning director.
“Essentially, you will be in a movie theater watching two individuals fall in love in a movie theater.”
The plot of the film is set in the English seaside in the 1980s and revolves around two people, Stephen and Hilary, as they enter a taboo relationship while working together in a local theater. Stephen, played by Michael Ward, is always facing the racism that plagues the town and Hilary, played by Olivia Colman, wants to escape from her troubled past. Together, they find comfort in one another and start a touching romance. Essentially, you will be in a movie theater watching two individuals fall in love in a movie theater.
Empire of Light also stars Colin Firth, Crystal Clarke, Hannah Onslow, Tanya Moodie, and Tom Brooke, among others. This film is the solo screenwriting debut of Mendez. Roger Deakins is overseeing the cinematography.
Overall, Empire of Light appears to be an old-fashioned, understated, and smart film that doesn’t aim very high, yet it is compelling and solid. Because of these unique characteristics, its initial reception, the track record of its director/writer and its leading actress, and the fact that the Academy loves films that offer something extra make Empire of Light a solid contender for the Oscars. The film is set to release on December 9, 2022 in the United States and in early 2023 worldwide.
The Whale
Beloved actor Brendan Fraser is returning to the big screen with a potential Oscar contender “The Whale”. It is an upcoming drama film by Darren Aronofsky and it is unlike anything Fraser has done before.
“The Whale received a standing ovation when it was screened which brought Fraser to tears”
The Whale is based on Samuel D. Hunter’s play of the same name. It debuted in 2012 and was critically acclaimed. The plot of the movie follows that of the play. Charlie (Fraser) is an English teacher who spends most of his time on his living room couch because of the crushing weight of years of grief, loneliness, and guilt that keeps him stuck. He left his daughter and her mother to pursue a love affair with another man but his lover has since passed away. He is sunk into a deep depression and is basically eating himself to death. Soon, he reaches out to reconnect with his daughter. Step by step, father and daughter fight to come to an understanding as they process their loss, grief, and relationship.
Apart from Fraser, the film is stacked with many talented actors, including Samantha Morton, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, and Ty Simpkins, among others. Darren Aronofsky is an accomplished director. His movies tend to be emotionally devastating and you can expect the same from The Whale. Tackling themes of reconciliation, regret, and guilt, the film will certainly take a toll on the audience and Fraser’s acting is expected to at least get an Oscar nomination if not the win itself. According to reports, The Whale received a standing ovation when it was screened which brought Fraser to tears. This is one you really won’t want to miss. It is scheduled to be released on December 9, 2022.
Bones and All
After the success of “Call Me by Your Name”, the duo Luca Guadagnino and Timothée Chalamet is back for another interesting story. Bones and All is an upcoming romantic film with a horrifying twist and unlike Call Me by Your Name, it will show Chalamet in a new light.
The movie is based on Camille DeAngelis’s novel of the same name. The plot follows the story of a young girl, Maren Yearly, who is looking for her father whom she never knew. Her purpose to find her father is to learn why she has urgency to kill and eat the people who love her. Not much has been revealed about the plot but according to novel readers, the story is really gripping.
“The movie is already being called an Oscars 2023 contender”
Apart from the main roles played by Timothée Chalamet and Taylor Russell, additional cast includes David Gordon Green, Jessica Harper, Francesca Scorsese, Chole Sevigny, Michael Stulhbarg, and Mark Rylance, among others.
The movie is already being called an Oscars 2023 contender and it’s not surprising why. Guadagnino is an experienced director who has been making films for nearly a quarter century. He is of course best known for his romantic film Call Me by Your Name that got four Oscar nominations. The talented actor Timothée Chalamet may also get a nomination or even a win according to some speculations. Overall, Bones and All is a film with a lot of award-winning potential and it is one you might certainly want to watch. It will debut in theaters on November 18, 2022.
Emancipation
Emancipation is an upcoming historical drama film starring Will Smith. It is one of the most high-profile productions of Apple yet and it was even considered a solid 2023 Oscar contender however that has changed due to obvious reasons.
Emancipation is based on the true tragic story of a slave, Peter, living in the southern part of the United States during the Civil War. Played by Will Smith, Peter fled a plantation in Louisiana, eventually joining the Union Army to combat oppression. The life story of Peter is very heartbreaking as it involves him being nearly whipped to death by his owners, which he ultimately escapes. The film captures Will in this powerful role. The actor commented on Instagram that it was the hardest film he has ever made.
“Apple has even pushed the release date of the film from December, 2022 to May, 2023”
At the moment, not much is known about this high-profile Apple Studio’s film. However, there is some information about its cast. Apart from Will Smith, other cast members you can expect to see include Mustafa Shakir, Ben Foster, Grant Harvey, Charmaine Bingwa, and Steven Ogg.
Emancipation had once been expected to be a strong Oscar contender but that was before Will slapped Chris Rock at the Annual Academy Awards ceremony earlier this year after Chris joked about Will’s wife. As a result, Will is banned from attending the Oscars for ten years. This has created obvious complications about the consideration of Emancipation with regards to Oscars. Chances are that it won’t even contend, at least not for the lead role spot. Apple has even pushed the release date of the film from December, 2022 to May, 2023.
Avatar 2 The Way of Water
Avatar 2 is finally on the way and there’s no time like the present as it has been about 13 years since we last visited the stunning landscapes of Pandora. The sequel by James Cameron is labeled as Avatar: The Way of Water.
The plot of Avatar 2 is set about a decade after the events of the first movie. The lead characters Jake and Neytiri are returning, and they will be joined by their three kids. This time, the family will explore different regions of Pandora as they are forced to leave their home due to the return of Resource Development Administration to Pandora. According to Cameron, the sequel is a generational family story, and it is quite different from the first movie. A vast majority of the film will be around water.
Most of the original cast of Avatar is return to reprise their roles. This includes Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, and Stephen Lang. There are some big-name newcomers as well, including Vin Diesel and Kate Winslet. There will be several new additions to alien cast.
The sequel from the Oscar-winning titan James Cameron is expected to get some nominees for not just at the Oscars but for the whole awards season. The first film Avatar (2009) was a commercial and critical success upon its launch and was crowned the highest-grossing movie of all time. Avatar: The Way of Water is being heralded as an Academy Awards comeback for the director. The awards will certainly flow in favour of its dazzling technical elements and special effects. The film is set to release on December 16, 2022.
Wakanda Forever
Wakanda Forever is the final major film to be released this year from the MCU and we cannot wait to see what it brings to the table. Directed by Ryan Coogler, Wakanda Forever is the sequel to the highly successful Black Panther that was released in 2018. Oh, and it had the best teaser trailer this year by far.
The plot of this film follows the Dora Milaje and how it is operating after the death of their King T’Challa, which has left Wakanda apparently vulnerable in the eyes of the rest of the world. The sequel will also pit Wakanda against the underwater kingdom of Atlantis. Princess Shuri and Queen Ramond will fight a battle at their fronts and backs as they struggle with the new underwater threat and the old surface world’s greed for Wakanda’s valuable resources. The upcoming war between the two most powerful nations will surely have huge implications for the Phase 5 of MCU as well as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
Lupita Nyong’o, Angela Bassett, Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira, and Winston Duke will reprise their roles in the new film. Wakanda Forever will also be the MCU debut of Michaela Coel, Dominique Thorn, Mabel Cadena, and Tenoch Huerta.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is speculated to be a solid contender for the next Oscars. After all, it is one of the most highly anticipated Marvel films this year. Its prequel Black Panther was a phenomenal success and won three Oscars. However, it didn’t earn a visual effects nod nor a cinematography nomination but that could change with Wakanda Forever as it looks much more vivid and stunning than its predecessor. Its release date is November 11, 2022.
The Menu
The Menu is an upcoming dark comedy horror movie by the well-established TV director Mark Mylod who is known for his works such as Succession, The Royle Family, and Game of Thrones. Unlike most chef-centric films, The Menu follows a completely different direction and features a more mysterious and darker story.
The film follows the story of Tyler and Margot as they join a small group of rich celebrities, writers, and foodies on a culinary adventure unlike any other. Together, they attend a very special dinner on a remote island at an exclusive restaurant of the legendary Chef Slowik. The staff has prepared a unique menu that is full of unusual surprises. While the full plot of The Menu hasn’t been revealed, the film will no doubt have some shocking and memorable moments.
The film features some of the popular and versatile names in the Hollywood industry: Ralph Fiennes, Nicholas Hoult, and Anya Taylor-Joy. Other cast members include the likes of Paul Adelstein, Reed Birney, Judith Light, Hong Chau, John Leguizamo, and many others.
The Menu is set to release on November 18, 2022, however the film already premiered at the Toronto International Festival this year in September, where it received positive reviews. The film’s release date will set it up for a potential Oscar play. It is being speculated as a solid Oscar contender considering the track record of its director and the lead cast members. It is a perfect recipe of horror and comedy. One that you certainly won’t want to miss.
She Said
She Said is an upcoming movie directed by Maria Schrader. It is based on the bestselling book written by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, two New York Times journalists who broke the Harvey Weinsten case and wrote the book.
The plot of She Said revolves around two journalists who are tasked with exposing the abuse of Harvey Weinstein. Together, these journalists brought to light one of the most important stories in a generation. Their success facilitated the launch of #MeToo movement, altered American culture, and broke the silence around the subject of sexual abuse in the Hollywood industry. While the real-life events are very emotional, the movie intends to show how difficult the whole ordeal was for all the women involved.
Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan are the lead cast members. The rest of the cast also includes some talented actors, e.g. Adam Shapiro, Tom Pelphrey, Jennifer Ehle, Samantha Morton, Andre Braugher, and Patricia Clarkson, among others.
The release date of the film is November 18, 2022. The movie was recently screened at the New York Film Festival, where it received good reviews. She Said is no doubt an Oscar-tipped film. Its script is written by Oscar-winner Rebecca Lenkiewicz and it has a solid cast. Carey Mulligan is particularly being speculated as an Oscar contender which is not surprising because whenever she graces the screen, she is always an Oscar favorite almost every time. So, it is likely that She Said will shake up the Best Actress race.
Strange World
Strange World is an upcoming Animated film by Disney that combines the traditional Disney charm with a unique sci-fi pulp adventure. Directed by Qui Nguyen and Don Hall, the movie was previously entitled Searcher Clade but now has a fitting new title of Strange World.
The plot of Strange World takes place on the alien world of Avalonia and focuses on the storyline of son and father. Searcher Clade has made a name for himself as his world’s important farmer. His father, Jaeger, is a legendary explorer. When Searcher is called upon to take on a dangerous mission, he, his wife, and his son find themselves on a great adventure. While the movie has a charming alien look, it is also driven by a family legacy and the world that people leave behind for their kids. The directors of the film described it as the old adventure films they would watch as kids. Similar to those movies, this one is filled with action and mystery.
The animated film has an incredible cast. It features the voices of Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Lucy Liu, Gabrielle Union, and Jaboukie Young-White.
Disney’s animated films are always among the favorites to win several nominations and then win the Oscar. This year, the studio has many of these movies with such potential and Strange World is one of them. It has all the ingredients to secure a place as a potential best animated feature at the Oscars. It is scheduled to release on November 23, 2022.
Spoiler Alert
Spoiler Alert is an upcoming movie based on the autobiography of Michael Ausiello. Directed by Michael Showalter, the film follows the story of TV columnist Ausiello as he accounts the last eleven months of his love life with his late husband.
Spoiler Alert is a biological film about the final years in the life of Kit Cowan, a well-known photographer. It portrays a beautiful narrative about his love life through the eyes of his lover Ausiello. While the full plot of the film hasn’t been officially revealed, the memoir it is based on gives the audience a taste of the emotional rollercoaster they are in for. The movie will chronicle the romance of Ausiello and Cowan from the moment they first meet through the final year of life of Cowan when he diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The lead roles of the film are played by Ben Aldridge and Jim Parson. Sally Field is also a big name in the movie. Other talented cast members include Tara Summers, Jeffery Self, Antoni Porowski, Nikki M. James, and Bill Irwin.
The director of this film Michael Showalter has been very busy over the past several years and has seen a precipitous rise in both TV and movies. His work on prestigious projects has earned him a reputation as a well-established director. Stories based on actual events are apparently becoming his specialty. His upcoming project Spoiler Alert is a solid Oscar contender. Many are also predicting Ben Aldridge to be a nominee for best supporting actor. The film will be released on December 2, 2022.
Summary
There we have it. A massive list of possible screener heading to a torrent site near you. Leak or not, there’s a bunch of titles to look forward to. The article will be updated as we go.
