97TH OSCARS SHORTLISTS

Four very different Framestore projects - Wicked, Deadpool & Wolverine, Gladiator II and Civil War - have been shortlisted for the 2025 Best Visual Effects Oscar.

Showcasing everything from world-dominating fantasy, epic character animation, blockbuster superhero action and gritty, documentary-style realism, these projects highlight the breadth and depth of Framestore’s creative and technological expertise. 

Wicked

Framestore Creative Director, Film and VFX Supervisor Jonathan Fawkner led the studio’s work on the year’s biggest cinematic phenomenon, crafting note-perfect CG characters and working hand-in-glove with the film’s practical craftspeople to amplify and augment the showstopping sense of magic. As well as VFX and animation, the film made use of Framestore’s in-house art department and FPS (Framestore Pre-production Services) - the latter previsualising key scenes like the iconic Defying Gravity sequence. 

Deadpool & Wolverine 

No strangers to either the MCU or the ‘merc with the mouth’, Framestore’s creatives brought skill, flair and eye-popping action to this hotly-anticipated box office smash. Work included the ambitious ‘oner’ in which Deadpool and Wolverine cut a bloody swathe through the rampaging Deadpool Corps; Cassandra’s skin-crawling telekinetic powers and CG augmentation to the beloved Dogpool. In addition to final VFX and animation, Framestore Pre-Production Services (FPS) delivered the entirety of the film’s previs work, led by Visualisation Supervisor Kaya Jabar. 

Watch the film’s full breakdown here. 

Civil War 

A masterclass in invisible effects, Civil War features some 1100 VFX shots. This work was integral to Alex Garland’s worldbuilding, which relied on an epic sense of desolation and an utterly immersive, documentary-style aesthetic. Led by Production VFX Supervisor David Simpson, the small team of VFX artists worked hand-in-glove with the show’s practical crafts. Highlights include building 13 square miles of Washington DC in full CG - a job so detailed that the city features a network of functioning traffic lights and office interiors that feature bespoke lighting and desk clutter.

Watch the Lincoln Memorial Breakdown here 

Watch the team’s ambitious and innovative CG city-build here 

Gladiator II

Framestore delivered artful postvis and 136 carefully-crafted VFX shots for Ridley Scott's hugely anticipated epic, gifting the legendary director his armoured rhino (finally!) as well as 12 bloodthirsty baboons and a hauntingly stylized River Styx environment. Led by Christian Kaestner, Framestore provided cutting-edge VFX to complement Ridley's visionary storytelling and help turn ambitious concepts into true entertainment.

Wicked, Deadpool and Wolverine and Civil War all will go forward to the ‘bake-off’ stage on January 11, 2025. The five final nominations will be announced on January 17.