Chase Infiniti's Oscar Journey: A Rising Star's Battle for Lead Actress Recognition
Chase Infiniti is setting her sights on not just one, but multiple Oscar opportunities this season.
Paul Thomas Anderson's latest masterpiece, the action-thriller "One Battle After Another," is rapidly building unstoppable momentum as a major force in this year's awards circuit. In an exclusive revelation to Variety, the film's awards strategists and promotional teams have officially announced that Infiniti will be positioned for recognition in the lead actress category as the upcoming Academy Awards season unfolds.
Drawing loose inspiration from Thomas Pynchon's 1990 literary work "Vineland," the narrative of "One Battle After Another" centers on a collective of former revolutionaries who come together once more to save the daughter of one of their own after a long-forgotten adversary resurfaces from the shadows. This Warner Bros. production boasts a remarkable ensemble cast filled with Academy Award champions, previous nominees, and emerging talents, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and most prominently, Infiniti herself.
At just 24 years old, this Indianapolis-born performer is making her very first appearance in a feature film, yet she captivates audiences as Willa Ferguson—the daughter of former radical Bob, portrayed by DiCaprio—and impressively stands toe-to-toe with some of Hollywood's most established powerhouses. By strategically positioning her campaign in the lead actress category, Infiniti cleverly sidesteps the potential problem of vote-splitting with her co-stars Hall and Taylor, both of whom are anticipated to compete in the supporting actress race instead. Meanwhile, Penn and Del Toro are expected to pursue recognition in the supporting actor category.
Currently boasting an exceptional 95% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes alongside a matching 95 rating on Metacritic, "One Battle After Another" is strategically positioned to emerge as one of the dominant forces throughout this awards season. Based on Variety's latest forecasting models, the film is on track to secure an astounding 14 Academy Award nominations—a figure that would create a historic tie for the most-nominated film of all time, matching the legendary status of "All About Eve" (1950), "Titanic" (1997), and "La La Land" (2016).
But here's where it gets controversial... Some Oscar prediction experts are projecting that the film could potentially receive an unprecedented six acting nominations: DiCaprio and Infiniti competing in the lead categories, with Penn, Del Toro, Hall, and Taylor all vying for supporting honors. Should this prediction materialize, "One Battle After Another" would shatter Oscar history by becoming the very first film ever to earn six acting nominations. To put this in perspective, only 15 films throughout Academy Awards history have managed to secure nominations across all four acting categories, with "American Hustle" in 2013 being the most recent to accomplish this feat. Furthermore, a mere four films have ever achieved five acting nominations: "Mrs. Miniver" (1942), "From Here to Eternity" (1953), "Bonnie and Clyde" (1967), and "Network" (1976).
Infiniti's debut film performance could potentially place her among an extraordinarily exclusive circle of performers. If she receives a nomination, she would join a highly selective group of actors who earned Academy recognition for their very first film appearance. Looking specifically at the lead actress category, previous debut winners include the iconic Julie Andrews for "Mary Poppins" (1964) and the legendary Barbra Streisand for "Funny Girl" (1968). The list of debut nominees in this category also features distinguished names such as Greer Garson for "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" (1939), Diana Ross for "Lady Sings the Blues" (1972), Keisha Castle-Hughes for "Whale Rider" (2003), Catalina Sandino Moreno for "Maria Full of Grace" (2004), Gabourey Sidibe for "Precious" (2009), and Quvenzhané Wallis for "Beasts of the Southern Wild" (2012).
And this is the part most people miss... While the studio has yet to officially confirm its category placement, "One Battle After Another" presents itself as a strong potential contender for the Golden Globes within the comedy or musical categories. In this scenario, Infiniti would find herself competing alongside formidable talents such as Cynthia Erivo ("Wicked: For Good"), Kate Hudson ("Song Sung Blue"), and Emma Stone ("Bugonia"). Critics have showered praise on Infiniti's interpretation of Willa, particularly noting how she brilliantly subverts the tired and overused trope of the helpless damsel in distress. Instead, she transforms into her own powerful heroine throughout the story. As a purple belt martial artist with an unwavering sense of personal agency and determination, Willa stands out as arguably one of the most captivating and fully-realized protagonists that Anderson has crafted throughout his distinguished filmmaking career.
From a commercial standpoint, the film has already generated impressive numbers, accumulating $58.9 million in international markets and reaching $101.7 million in worldwide box office revenue to date. Infiniti also appeared as a featured guest on the Season 12 premiere episode of the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, which launched in September.
As the intensity of Oscar season continues to escalate, both "One Battle After Another" and its remarkably talented young star appear poised to potentially rewrite the record books.
So here's the question that's dividing industry insiders: Does a debut performance, no matter how exceptional, truly deserve to compete against seasoned actresses with decades of experience? Or does raw talent and a groundbreaking role transcend experience? Is the Academy ready to make history by nominating six actors from a single film, or will traditional voting patterns prevail? What's your take—should Infiniti be considered a serious frontrunner, or is the hype premature? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and let's debate whether this could be the year the Academy breaks all its own rules.
