Before it’s even released, we’ve received some idea of where that Best Actor Oscar is probably heading! It’s the glorious folk at Paddy Power that have made Idris Elba favourite to win Best Actor at next year’s Oscars for his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in LONG WALK TO FREEDOM – despite the movie not opening until November – BUT the excellent Chiwetel Ejiofor has thrown his hat into the ring as well, as his part in Steve McQueen’s 12 YEARS A SLAVE has already been noticed with odds dropping from 20/1 to 10/1. Not a bad outside bet at all!
However, Elba remains favourite with his film that follows Mandela’s life from his childhood in a small village through to his inauguration as President of South Africa and while details of the film are closely guarded, a wave of money has seen his odds tumble from 14/1 to 9/2.
As ever there’s a full team sheet of Hollywood heavyweights standing in Elba’s way including Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Tom Hanks and Batman himself, Christian Bale, all vying to get their grubby paws on the golden gong, however with the movie set to be the biggest tearjerker of the year the Londoner will no doubt have a strong following wind of support.
Leonardo DiCaprio is also up there for his portrayal as real-life playboy stockbroker Jordan Belfort in the THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, however he’s a hefty 40/1 to bag it for his efforts in THE GREAT GATSBY.
Tom Hanks is 12/1 for his role in CAPTAIN PHILLIPS as the Captain of the real-life US ship MV Maersk high jacked by Somali pirates. He has equal chances of lifting the trophy for his role as Walt Disney in the upcoming Saving Mr. Banks about the production of Mary Poppins in the 1960s.
Here’s that updated list for the Oscar Specials:
9/2 Idris Elba (Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom)
5/1 Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf Of Wall Street)
8/1 Bruce Dern (Nebraska)
8/1 Christian Bale (American Hustle)
10/1 Chiwetel Ejiofor (Twelve Years A Slave)
12/1 Robert Redford (All Is Lost)
12/1 Tom Hanks (Captain Phillips)
14/1 Michael B Jordan (Fruitvale)
14/1 Tom Hanks (Saving Mr Banks)
14/1 Matthew McConaughey (The Dallas Buyers’ Club)
14/1 Steve Carell (Foxcatcher)
16/1 Forest Whitaker (The Butler)
20/1 Michael Fassbender (The Counselor)
25/1 Benedict Cumberbatch (The Fifth Estate)
25/1 Joaquin Phoenix (The Immigrant)
25/1 George Clooney (Gravity)
25/1 Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis)
33/1 Miles Teller (The Spectacular Now)
40/1 Ethan Hawke (Before Midnight)
40/1 Leonardo DiCaprio (The Great Gatsby)
Full market and more here at Paddy Power!
