Ryan Coogler Feels ‘Really Fortunate’ After ‘Sinners’ Earns History-Making 16 Oscar Noms, Plus More Reactions From Teyana Taylor, Kate Hudson, Ethan Hawke

Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian were nominated for best picture for producing “Sinners,” while Ryan Coogler received additional nominations for best director and original screenplay.

“Sinners” is the the most nominated film in Oscars history. How are you processing that record?

Zinzi Coogler: I don’t know that it’s truly settled in yet. We’re still trying to catch our bearings. Like. literally for any morning, it’s so early. But what an insane honor.

Ryan Coogler: I was very impressed by everything that my collaborators were doing every day, so I’m so happy that everybody got recognized by their peers. Obviously, I’m biased. I think these folks I work with are some of the best in the world. I feel really fortunate. Because it doesn’t always go that way.

Did you wake up early to hear the nominations?

Ryan Coogler: I turned on YouTube when I woke up. Me and Zinzi sleep in the same room [laughs], so it was like “Hey, get up.” Very similar to how it’s been for 20-something years. It was no different from when we were in New Oreleans or on other movies. It was nice to roll over and turn on YouTube. We were up late last night working, so we’re still waking up. We’re all in California, and we’ve gotta [laughter] take the kids to school. But Sev, you say what happened with you, bro.

Sev Ohanian: At 5:15 a.m., my doorbell rang. “Ding Dong.” My parents and my sister were like, “Hey, we brought food.” So I got a chance to watch it with the family. It was awesome.

Sev, you are the first Armenian American to be nominated for the best picture. What does that mean to you?

Ohanian: Man, that’s the first time I heard that spoken out loud. Wow. That’s not a statistic I was tracking. I’m beyond honored and to have done it with Ryan and Zinzi, my collaborators, my friends, my partners. At our company, Proximity, we value telling stories about people who are often overlooked, and from different cultures. When I read the “Sinners” screenplay over a year ago, I called Ryan to talk about how I felt, as an Armenian, connected to the storyline. It’s so specific to Ryan and Zinzi’s ancestors, and a time in American history, but I related to it through my own people.

“Sinners” is a genre-bending film. You were nominated with “Black Panther,” the first comic book movie to be recognized in the best picture category, but what is it like to get all of these nominations for a genre that isn’t always honored at the Oscars?

Zinzi Coogler: I’m just floating. That we’re in the conversation and on people’s mind nearly a year after we released the film, the audience showing love to our film, I’m just running on gratitude.

Ryan, your uncle James was part of the inspiration behind “Sinners.” What would he make of all of this? How would he be celebrating today?

Ryan Coogler: I imagine he’s partying right now with a lot of his favorite musicians. He’s probably drinking some whiskey. In my family, when good things happen, we say the ancestors are dancing and they’re partying. And I believe that. I can feel him and my grandfather — from Mississippi who moved to Oakland — I felt their energy from day one with this one. So I gotta imagine they’re having a good time.

Teyana Taylor was nominated for best supporting actress for “One Battle After Another”

Academy Award nominee Teyana Taylor. How does it feel to hear that?

She’s a good luck charm. “Pretty Woman” being one of my favorite movies, especially at such a young age,  it hit different. My favorite line is “I want the fairy tale,” and that’s what this feels like. It feels really good being here — from retiring in 2020 from music and feeling trapped in a box and wanting to spread my wings, I know I can water my whole garden, opposed to just watering one plant or one flower.

You are hosting “Saturday Night Live” and recreated the Angela Bassett scene from “Waiting to Exhale” in your promo video —

And she commented! Oh my god, I was so hype! And that was just yesterday! I’m just like, “Oh, back-to-back wins.”

Kate Hudson was nominated for lead actress for “Song Sung Blue”

How does it feel to get your second Oscar nomination?

It feels wonderful. This whole process has been thrilling. It’s allowed some time to reflect on my career, on how much the industry has changed, and how different the whole process is when you’re in one of those movies that people get behind. I feel so lucky to be able to do this for so long, and to have had the career that I’ve had. This is a weird business. As an actor, you’re a hired gun and sometimes you get the role and sometimes you don’t. It just takes one to shift the tide.

Who was the most unexpected person you heard from on nominations morning? 

The one I cared most about was Hugh Jackman. He’s my partner. He’s just so happy. We all are. 

How did your mom, Goldie Hawn, react?

She came over with coffee and sat down and said, “OK. I’ve got to get a dress.” So I’m going to have the most beautiful Oscars date in the world. It’ll be a fun girls’ night out.

Ethan Hawke was nominated for best lead actor for “Blue Moon”

This is your fifth Oscar nomination. Does it feel different to get nominated for a lead performance?

It does. When you dedicate your life to acting, getting a lead performance nomination means a lot.

Who is the most unexpected person you’ve heard from?

The parents of the other kids in my kids’ class. It’s actually kind of funny, when I took Maya, my oldest, to nursery school, I found out that I was nominated for “Training Days” through her preschool teacher. She emailed me this morning, and that felt great.

This is your fourth nomination for a Linklater film. What works about your collaboration?

It’s kind of like asking somebody, “How do you ride a bike?” If you think too much, you fall off. It’s just been easy and rewarding for the two of us. We started talking 30 years ago, and we’re still talking to each other, and every now and then, a movie flies out of those conversations.

Are you trying to get a part in “Merrily We Roll Along”?

Desperately. Maybe Rick will finally take me seriously.

As a returnee, do you have advice for nominees about sitting through the ceremony?

Well, it’s important to remember that over 80% of the people leave feeling like a loser, so you’re not a loser. It’s a victory lap for the profession. That’s always how I think about these things. You need only watch the opening of “Dead Poet Society” — when Robin Williams tells us there’s a whole essay about what is good poetry, and he rips it out of the book — because the idea of competition in the arts is antithetical to what the idea fundamentally is the arts. But competition is a great way to create attention to the business, and I feel like it’s a sacrifice we all have to go through.

Was there anyone who didn’t get a nomination that you thought should have been recognized?

At 55, I’ve spent so many of these kind of mornings disappointed throughout my life, so it’s hard for me not to think of all the people who did great work, even in my category alone. There were so many people: Jesse Plemons is absolutely brilliant in “Bugonia.” Lee Byung-hun was staggeringly great in “No Other Choice.” Dwayne Johnson was phenomenal in “The Smashing Machine. George Clooney in “Jay Kelly.” Oscar Isaac in “Frankenstein.” My brain does flips over how many people deserve it.

Chloé Zhao was nominated for best director for “Hamnet”

Congradulation on your nomination. How did you find out you were recognized?

I’ve been on a night shoot that wraps at four in the morning, and then I was rushing to the airport this morning to go to Sundance. I’m a little tired, and so I couldn’t watch it live, but I got a text message from my publicist. I was very happy. 

You previously won the best director Oscar in 2021 for “Nomadland,” and “Hamnet” recently took home the top prize at the Golden Globes. Do you pre-write your acceptance speeches? 

No. [Laughing] My publicist is shaking her head over there. She always asks me to do it. It’s scary, but at the same time, it’s exciting for me to see how things go in the moment. But I think it might be a good to have a list making sure we thank all the people, because you can get too nervous and forget. I, myself, have made a mistake. So I would say, like, prepare some.

You recently released a video of the cast and crew dancing to Rihanna’s “We Found Love” on the last day of filming. Have you heard from Rihanna?

I’ve been waiting to hear from Rihanna since I was in high school. Every day, I’ve wished one day [my phone] would go “ping!,” and then I could go “Oh my God; life goal completed.” I saw her at [an awards ceremony], and I walked behind her three times to use the bathroom when I didn’t need to, just so that I could be at proximity to her. Everyone said, “Go say hi!” But I was too scared. I’ve been dancing to her music since my first film. The “We Found Love” video is the first time I captured it, but I’ve been dancing to Rihanna’s music since “Songs My Brother Taught Me.”

You are making history as the first person of color and second woman to be nominated twice for best director. How does that feel? 

Wow. Just very honored. I feel that the story that we tell, and then the village we build, the way that this community came together to make “Hamnet,” is the way I love the world. So if this means that more of us get to work this way, it’s exciting.

Who are you going to bring with you to the ceremony?

I’ve never been to the Oscars. Well, that’s not true. I did go during COVID, but not only were we not allowed to bring anybody, most nominees couldn’t even be in the room at Union Station. Only the people being announced could be in the room. All the other nominee had to queue up outside. So this is my first regular, normal Oscars. So I have to think about who to bring.

Are you doing anything special today to celebrate?

Well, I’m sitting in a Panda Express right now in the airport on my way to Sundance. I’m going to be seeing a bunch of my colleagues in the Sundance community, where my career started. So it’s going to be incredible to hug everybody and celebrate. But for now, this morning, I got myself some Chinese food at the airport. Not the healthiest, but I am rewarding myself with some greasy Chinese food.

Speaking of food, there’s famously no food at the Oscars. Will you be sneaking a snack into your bag?

I brought my own homemade food like Chinese special pairs and goji berry tea to the Critic’s Choice Awards. I had a whole bag of goodies. So I’m planning on having so much stuff that I can also hand it out, maybe making some money along the way.

Amy Madigan was nominated for best supporting actress for “Weapons.”

Congratulations on your nomination. How are you feeling?

I feel really happy. I’ve had a long career, and it’s really nice that people are responding so well to “Weapons.” I love Aunt Gladys. She is a really cool character who has turned into an iconic. So hats off to Aunt Gladys! She is a diva — non-derogatory — with her makeup, jewelry and costumes.

It’s been 40 years since your last Oscar nomination for “Twice in a Lifetime.” Does the excitement ever wear off?

It feels completely different because of social media, which did not exist when I did “Twice in a Lifetime.” Gladys has captured people’s hearts, and [shows that] horror doesn’t have to be pushed to the side.

Did you wake up early to watch the nominations?

It’s very early. I’m not a morning person. I’m here with my dog, Woody, and he’s wondering why we’re up drinking coffee this early. The people that I work with told me last evening, “Make sure your phone is on.” And I said, “OK, I will.” So in the back of my brain, I was somewhat expecting it. But it’s a nice way to wake up.

Do you have plans to revisit the character of Aunt Gladys in future films?

Zach Cregger, our writer-director, has a very fertile imagination. If, down the road, we get a chance to commiserate again, that would be wonderful. But that’s a lot of things that are involved in the business side, which I don’t have anything to do with. So we’ll see if that happens.

Wunmi Mosaku was nominated for best actress in a supporting role for “Sinners.” 

Congratulations on your first Oscar nomination. How did it feel to hear the presenters call your name?

I was asleep because I thought they were being announced at 8:30 a.m. PT. So my reaction was to my husband. “Why are you on the phone so early and on loud?” He was like, “You got nominated for an Oscar!”

Is there a “Sinners” group chat? How is everyone reacting?

There are multiple. Group chats are actually quite annoying, aren’t they? We are in contact all the time. But everybody’s been excited.

Is there anyone you’re looking forward to meeting at the Oscars?

I get star struck very randomly. I don’t predict it. I’m just honored to be in the same room with so many people who I have watched my whole life; so many people who I admire. I’m excited being in that company.

How do you plan to celebrate today?

I’ve tried to make today no different from any other day in my mind. My emotions are very much on the surface, especially being pregnant. I am trying to be cool and chill about it.

Joachim Trier was nominated for best director, best picture and best original screenplay for “Sentimental Value.”

Congratulations on your nominations! How did it feel to see all four of your actors get recognized?

As a director, a film is nothing without the performances. The kind of stories I want to tell is about human experiences and empathy for people who are far from perfect. That all four actors were nominated is remarkable. It was fun to be on Zoom with the Oslo crowd — Renate [Reinsve] and Inga [Ibsdotter Lilleaas] and the producers and [co-writer] Eskil [Vogt] were there. Stellan [Skarsgård] was on Zoom with me in Stockholm, and we had Elle [Fanning] on FaceTime. We were all so happy.

This is your first nomination for best director and best picture. How do those recognitions feel?

I am blown away. I did not expect it. I know the other four nominees for directing, and they are people I admire tremendously. To be in that group is a win already.

Directors Byron Howard and Jared Bush and producer Yvett Merino were nominated for best animated feature for “Zootopia 2”

How does it feel to be nominated for best animated feature?

Bryon Howard: We don’t take anything for granted. Animation is a very close community, and we know how much trouble and effort these films take to make.

Yvett Merino: It sounds cliché, but it’s such an honor to be in the conversation.

Jared Bush: The Oscars were something I always watched as a kid. To imagine that I’d be part of that is incredible. I’m also excited to see Conan O’Brien in person. I hear he’s eight feet tall, so that will be exciting.

How did you find out you were nominated?

Bush: I’m at an airport in Vancouver. I had to get up this morning to catch my flight back to Los Angeles. I was watching the live feed. About four seconds before the official thing came through, I started getting texts. So I heard through friends, which is delightful.

Howard: The “Zootopia” team has this never-ending text chain, which has, like, 500,000 texts.

“Zootopia 2” has been a box office juggernaut, and it’s been especially huge in China. What do you make of the theatrical success?

Merino: I have never use the word “mind-blowing,” but I have used that little mind-blowing emoji so many times over the last couple of months. It’s hard to describe.

Bush: This is a movie about getting past our differences. So to feel feel love is really rewarding.

Renate Reinsve was nominated for best actress for “Sentimental Value”

You’re a first-time Oscar nominee — how does it feel to be nominated alongside your co-stars?

I’m so excited, and it’s so surreal. I’m so happy the actors — Stellan, Elle, Inga and me — were nominated. It’s been such a collective process making this movie, and having so many nominations feels so great. I never thought it was going to happen, so it’s going to take me a while to let it sink in. We’re in Norway, and about 60 people from the production gathered to watch the announcement together. We had a big hug every time we had a new category.

What works about your collaborations with director Joachim Trier? Do you have plans to work together again?

I would always say yes to working with him. The way he works, his taste in how he wants the production to work, is fantastic. He respects his actors, and we have a special bond in the way we work.

It’s already late in Norway. How else are you celebrating today?

We’re going out for dinner and then have a long night with wine and champagne.