Casting Directors Behind Wicked Movies Get Oscar Spotlight and New Industry Recognition

A new Academy Award prize for casting, set to debut at the 98th Oscars on March 15, 2026, shines a spotlight on the craft that helped bring the hit musical “Wicked” to life.

Oscar Recognition for Casting

The Academy added a prize for achievement in casting in March, a move that casting directors say has long been overdue. The 98th Academy Awards will air live on ABC on March 15, 2026.

Bernard Telsey, who helped cast both “Wicked” movies with Tiffany Little Canfield, said, “It’s really hard for people to understand what it is that we do because it’s so private,” and added, “It’s only going to make the profession that much stronger and people that much more aware of what we do.”

Industry Awards and Visibility

The Emmys now have three categories for casting, and the Critics Choice Awards added a casting trophy this year. The Artios Awards, first held in 1985, remain the casting industry’s own prize. In contrast, the Golden Globes and Tony Awards do not recognize the profession.

Destiny Lilly, president of the 1,200‑strong Casting Society who works with Telsey, noted, “When casting is great, it sometimes feels invisible. Because it’s so well done, you don’t see the fingerprints.”

Variety film awards editor Clayton Davis highlighted the Academy’s recent announcement of new representation and inclusion standards for Best Picture eligibility, insisting that “there are many kinks needed to be worked out, such as educating the public and Academy membership.”

The Casting Process and Challenges

Telsey explains that casting directors first talk with directors, writers and producers to grasp the vision for a project before bringing the right actors to audition. He likens it to a costume designer who must know all the potential fabrics and colors.

For “Wicked” and “Wicked: For Good,” the challenge was filling hundreds of roles and dance parts over more than a year of filming across continents. Telsey recalls, “Not until they got in the room were you like, ‘Oh, this is magic. This has to be. There is nobody else to play the part but the two of them,’” he says. “You don’t really know until you get to see it.”

He keeps tabs on actors by attending theater 4‑5 nights a week and catching up on TV and movies on weekends. Twice a week, he and his staff meet to trade tips and make recommendations, describing the effort as a constant race.

Broadening Horizons

Lilly recently scored a coup by suggesting comedian Bill Burr join the Broadway revival of David Mamet’s “Glengarry Glen Ross” with Kieran Culkin and Bob Odenkirk. Burr’s stage debut was a good fit for Mamet’s explosive dialogue.

Telsey notes that the walls between film, TV and theater are falling away. “It’s a myth that they’re different. They’re technically different, but they’re the same. Good acting is good acting,” he says. “Glenn Close can do a musical, a play, a television show and a movie and be nominated in every … category. Those things have changed over the last 20 years.”

His first big breakout casting was the show “Rent,” which he jokes was “just a little musical that nobody wanted to do.” He also highlights how technology has changed the job, with auditions moving online, streaming TV exploding and the film business becoming more global.

Key Takeaways

• A new Academy Award prize for casting will debut at the 98th Oscars on March 15, 2026.
• Casting is now recognized by the Emmys, Critics Choice and the Artios Awards, but not by the Golden Globes or Tony Awards.
• Bernard Telsey and Destiny Lilly emphasize that casting feels invisible yet is crucial, and they work tirelessly to match actors with roles worldwide.

The new Oscar prize and expanding industry awards mark a significant step toward acknowledging the vital work that brings stories like “Wicked” to audiences worldwide.