Joel McHale to host the 51st annual Saturn Awards

By Gina Yarbrough

Los Angeles, CA–The anticipation for the 51st Annual Saturn Awards is soaring as the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Films announced that Joel McHale, the versatile actor, comedian, and renowned host of “Animal Control” and “Community,” will once again take the stage as the host of this prestigious event. 

“We are thrilled to have Joel McHale host the Saturn Awards for the second consecutive year. His remarkable talent, dry wit, and acerbic humor perfectly embody the spirit of the Saturn Awards, making him the ideal host for this momentous 51st annual celebration,” Academy President Robert Holguin, and Saturn producers Bradley and Kevin Marcus stated in the company’s news release. 

This year’s awards ceremony is dedicated to the memory of the Saturn Awards’ former host, the late actor Lance Reddick, known for his roles in “Bosch” and the “John Wick” franchise, and legendary filmmaker William Friedkin, the Oscar-winning director of “The Exorcist” and “The French Connection.” Producers say the ceremony promises to be both ‘poignant and celebratory.’

In addition to the customary award categories, the show will feature Special Saturn Awards Honorees, including the presentation of The Visionary Award to Christopher Nolan. Emily Blunt is set to present this prestigious accolade during the awards show. 

The Saturn Awards, honoring excellence in genre entertainment, will be broadcast live on Electric Entertainment’s premium OTT app and FAST channel on February 4 at the L.A. Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel.

Viewers can expect exclusive interviews from the Red Carpet, winner’s press walk, and behind-the-scenes glimpses with prominent figures from the genre.

Presented and produced in collaboration with Electric Entertainment’s ElectricNOW, the Saturn Awards stand out as the singular awards show recognizing outstanding contributions to genre entertainment since 1972.

The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror, a non-profit organization established in 1972 by film historian Dr. Donald A. Reed, enjoys the support of numerous genre enthusiasts and professionals, including industry luminaries such as JJ Abrams, Dean Devlin, Gale Anne Hurd, Guillermo Del Toro, Greg Berlanti, and Kevin Feige. President Robert Holguin, along with Saturn leaders Bradley Marcus and Kevin Marcus, currently lead the organization’s ongoing efforts to promote genre film production and television programming.

The 51st Annual Saturn Awards Nominations:

Best Science Fiction Film:
Avatar: The Way of Water (Walt Disney/Lightstorm)
The Creator (20th Century Studios)
M3GAN (Universal Pictures/Blumhouse)
Prey (20th Century Studios/Hulu)
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (Paramount/Hasbro)

Best Fantasy Film:
Barbie (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (Paramount Pictures/Hasbro)
Haunted Mansion (Walt Disney Studios)
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Lucasfilm/Paramount/Disney)
The Little Mermaid (Walt Disney Studios)

Best Horror Film:
Barbarian (20th Century Studios)
Evil Dead Rise (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Insidious: The Red Door (Screen Gems/Blumhouse)
Renfield (Universal Pictures)
Scream VI (Paramount Pictures)
Smile (Paramount Pictures)
Talk to Me (A24)

Best Superhero Film:
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (Marvel/Walt Disney Studios)
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel/Walt Disney Studios)
Blue Beetle (DC/Warner Bros. Pictures)
The Flash (DC/Warner Bros. Pictures)
Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3 (Marvel/Walt Disney Studios)

Best Action / Adventure Film:
Bullet Train (Sony Pictures)
The Equalizer 3 (Sony Pictures)
Fast X (Universal Pictures)
John Wick: Chapter 4 (Lionsgate Films)
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (Paramount Pictures)
The Woman King (TriStar Pictures)

Best Thriller Film:
Don’t Worry Darling (Warner Bros./
New Line Cinema)
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix)
The Lesson (Bleecker Street)
The Menu (Searchlight Pictures)
Knock at the Cabin (Universal Pictures)
Oppenheimer (Universal Pictures)

Best Animated Film:
Elemental (Pixar/Walt Disney Studios)
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (Dreamworks/Universal)
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Sony Pictures/Marvel)
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Universal Pictures)
Suzume (Crunchyroll)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (Paramount Pictures)

Best Actor in a Film:
Ralph Fiennes The Menu (Searchlight Pictures)
Harrison Ford Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Lucasfilm/Paramount/Disney)
Ben Kingsley Jules (Bleecker Street)
Cillian Murphy Oppenheimer (Universal Pictures)
Chris Pratt Guardians of the Galaxy – Vol. 3 (Marvel/Walt Disney Studios)
Keanu Reeves John Wick: Chapter 4 (Lionsgate Films)
Sam Worthington Avatar: The Way of Water (Walt Disney/Lightstorm)

Best Actress in a Film:
Viola Davis The Woman King (TriStar Pictures)
Mia Goth Pearl (A24)
Anya Taylor-Joy The Menu (Searchlight Pictures)
Amber Midthunder Prey (20th Century Studios/Hulu)
Margot Robbie Barbie (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Zoe Saldana Avatar: The Way of Water (Walt Disney/Lightstorm)

Best Supporting Actor in a Film:
Nicolas Cage Renfield (Universal Pictures)
Robert Downey Jr. Oppenheimer (Universal Pictures)
Ryan Gosling Barbie (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Michael Keaton The Flash (DC/Warner Bros. Pictures)
Stephen Lang Avatar: The Way of Water (Walt Disney/Lightstorm)
Mads Mikkelsen Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Lucasfilm/Paramount/Disney)

Best Supporting Actress in a Film:
Angela Bassett Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel/Walt Disney Studios)
Emily Blunt Oppenheimer (Universal Pictures)
Jane Curtain Jules (Bleecker Street)
Melissa McCarthy The Little Mermaid (Walt Disney Studios)
Phoebe Waller-Bridge Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Lucasfilm/Paramount/Disney)
Sophie Wilde Talk to Me (A24)

Best Younger Performer in a Film:
Halle Bailey The Little Mermaid (Walt Disney Studios)
Vivien Lyra Blair The Boogeyman (20th Century Studios)
Jack Champion Avatar: The Way of Water (Walt Disney/Lightstorm)
Xolo Mariduena Blue Beetle (DC/Warner Bros. Pictures)
Violet McGraw M3GAN (Universal Pictures/ Blumhouse)
Noah Schnapp The Tutor (Vertical Entertainment)

Best Film Direction:
James Cameron Avatar: The Way of Water (Walt Disney/Lightstorm)
Greta Gerwig Barbie (Warner Bros. Pictures)
James Gunn Guardians of the Galaxy – Vol. 3 (Marvel/Walt Disney Pictures)
James Mangold Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Lucasfilm/Paramount/Disney)
Mark Mylod The Menu (Searchlight Films)
Christopher Nolan Oppenheimer (Universal Pictures)
Danny Philippou & Michael Philippou Talk to Me (A24)

Best Film Screenwriting:
Avatar: The Way of Water James Cameron and Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver (Walt Disney/Lightstorm)
Barbie Noah Baumbach & Greta Gerwig (Warner Bros. Pictures)
The Menu Seth Reiss & Will Tracy (Searchlight Films)
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One Erik Jendresen & Christopher McQuarrie (Paramount Pictures)
Oppenheimer Christopher Nolan (Universal Pictures)
Pearl Ti West and Mia Goth (A24)

Best Film Music (Composer):
Avatar: The Way of Water Simon Franglen (Walt Disney/Lightstorm)
Barbie Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny John Williams (Lucasfilm/Paramount/Disney)
The Little Mermaid Alan Menken (Walt Disney Pictures)
Renfield Marco Beltrami (Universal Pictures)
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Daniel Pemberton (Sony Pictures/Marvel)

To view other nominations click here,