Stage-to-Screen Success Dominates Golden Globe Nominations With Wicked: For Good and Hamnet

Film adaptations of major stage works have taken centre stage in this year’s Golden Globe nominations, with Wicked: For Good and Hamnet emerging as standout contenders across multiple categories.

Wicked: For Good, the second instalment of Jon M Chu’s ambitious screen adaptation, continues its winning streak following its November release. The film once again spotlighted Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in their roles as Elphaba and Glinda, earning both performers fresh nominations for their leading turns. The production was also recognised for box office achievement, underscoring its status as one of the year’s most successful musical releases.

The Wicked screenplay, shaped by original creators Winnie Holzman and Stephen Schwartz alongside Dana Fox, expanded the world first imagined in Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. Two new songs composed by Schwartz, “No Place Like Home” and “The Girl in the Bubble,” added to the musical legacy and are now competing for Best Original Song.

Sharing the spotlight is the highly anticipated adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet, which received six nominations. Directed by Chloé Zhao, the film stars Jessie Buckley as Agnes Shakespeare and Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare, exploring the emotional aftermath of their son Hamnet’s death in 1580s England. The film’s recognition spans Best Picture (Drama), Best Screenplay, acting nominations for both leads, and nods for Zhao’s direction and Max Richter’s score.

Interest in the film has been amplified by the success of the stage adaptation, which previously earned acclaim at the Royal Shakespeare Company and in the West End. Hamnet will arrive in UK cinemas on 9 January 2026.

Also joining the list of theatre-linked projects recognised this year is Adolescence, written by Jack Thorne and starring Stephen Graham. The film garnered nominations for its ensemble, including Owen Cooper, Ashley Walters, Erin Doherty and Graham.

With stage inspired storytelling resonating strongly on screen, this year’s Golden Globe nominations highlight the continued appetite for theatrical narratives in cinema, as well as the creative strength of the artists bringing them to life.