Vanity Fair has issued its Emmy issue at the time of the Oscars. Either they couldn’t get big movie stars to pose for them, or there just aren’t any, anymore.
That would seem to the case. On the cover are 12 actors. One of them is probably very nice but no one has heard their name except their parents. Five more are from TV series. The other four are in movies but aren’t big stars with the possible exception of Austin Butler from “Elvis.”
I love Julia Garner, but her total resume is from “Ozark” and “Inventing Anna.” Selena Gomez is a singer who appears on “Only Murders in the Building.” Jeremy Allen White comes from “Shameless” and “The Bear.” Emma Corrin is from “The Crown.” Rege Jean Page’s major credit is “Bridgerton.”
The lack of Oscar nominees is really shocking. Even a non-nominee like Danielle Deadwyler from “Till” would have been more appropriate and cutting edge. And of 12 actors only 3 who are Black? That’s Jonathan Majors, Keke Palmer, and Page– all of whom are up and coming but not exactly Stars with a capital S.
But this indicative of Vanity Fair’s loosened grip on Hollywood since Graydon Carter stepped down as editor in chief. With the exception of Butler, the faces on that cover would be hard for readers t identify on the newsstand. Deadwyler should have been there, but also where are Cate Blanchett, Michelle Williams, someone from “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” Viola Davis, Jamie Lee Curtis, the guys from “Banshees” and on and on? (Everyone likes Florence Pugh, but she was in a major flop this year.)
Maybe Vanity Fair is telling us movies are over. But who will they put on their TV Issue next fall?
