After the Pope's illness

Will “Conclave” turn the Oscar race on its head?

Sometimes reality can catch up with the surreality of the movie world - and turn an Oscar race on its head ...(Bild: AP/Focus Features via AP)

Due to Pope Francis' serious illness, the film "Conclave" mutates from outsider to the new secret favorite. 

The film by Austrian-Swiss director Edward Berger is based on the bestseller by Robert Harris and is about Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes), who has to preside over the secret vote - known as the conclave - for the successor as Pope after the Pope's death.

As the real Pope - Francis (88) - has been in hospital for two weeks with pneumonia, the film gains new relevance in many areas.

Although the members of the Film Academy had to submit their ballots eight days ago, the health drama surrounding the 88-year-old pontiff began even before voting ended.

Surprise could be possible
Insiders therefore believe that "Conclave" could surprise the actual favorites "The Brutalist" and "Anora" on Oscar night and beat them out for "Best Picture".

We'll know more on Sunday
An insider told "Variety": "The more relevant a movie is to real life due to current events, the higher the chance that some voters will go for it at the last minute." The denouement follows Sunday night in Hollywood ...