The 96th Academy Awards have come knocking and lie barely a few hours away. A brimming line of contenders will compete for the highest honor in the film industry. Among the many first gracing the evening, Jeffrey Wright stands with his first-ever Oscar nomination for the 2023 comedy-drama American Fiction. While his case of winning stays up to fate, the seasoned actor believes his movie has a far-reaching purpose, surpassing that of an awards tally.

Giving one of his best performances in the movie, the actor recently spoke about the film’s target audience being unrestricted.

American Fiction has a theme that goes beyond borders

American Fiction has Jeffrey Wright starring as an African-American author fed up with books stereotyping their characters. However, its key theme does not stay “limited to the publishing world and it’s not just limited to the Black experience”. In talks with People, the actor revealed that the satirical take on the horrors of an author being thrust into the heart of the very system he criticized served as a “springboard” for spreading awareness on that trend of generality.

Wright went on to explain how the movie, based on Percival Everett’s novel Erasure, had its goal to “touch people across backgrounds, across borders,” which he believed the team achieved. “So the film, I think, has a universal appeal,” added the Casino Royale actor as they tried to be as authentic as possible in narrating the issue in a manner that not only resonated with the audience but also helped them strike a conversation on the glaring holes in proper representation.

In the meantime, the movie has a decent set of odds in its favor as it heads for the Oscars race with Wright on the verge of making a milestone.

Jeffrey Wright stands in line to possibly win his first-ever Oscar

The Academy Awards remain a coveted recognition and are pretty hard to achieve. Cinema pioneers such as Christopher Nolan have tried to win one for over two decades but Jeffrey Wright may register a win in his first-ever Best Actor Oscar nomination for American Fiction. The movie also holds good chances with five nods including Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Original Score.

With its recent wins such as that at the BAFTAs, USC Scripter, and Critics Choice Awards, American Fiction may win a few or all of its nods. Furthermore, Jeffrey Wright also has the support of fellow artists such as Rustin co-star Colman Domingo, who recently laid bare his story of creating Oscar history with him.

What are your thoughts on Jeffrey Wright advocating the audience base for American Fiction? Let us know in the comments below.