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With the 98th Academy Awards set for Sunday evening, Leonardo DiCaprio stands poised for a potential second Oscar win, a decade after claiming his first for “The Revenant.” The actor’s commanding performance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” has positioned him as a serious contender in the Best Actor category amid one of the most unpredictable races in recent memory.

DiCaprio portrays Bob Ferguson, a burnt-out former revolutionary hiding off the grid while protecting his daughter amid threats from a ruthless colonel played by Sean Penn. The film, released Sept. 26, 2025, by Warner Bros., blends political thriller elements with intense character drama, drawing loose inspiration from Thomas Pynchon’s “Vineland.” It earned widespread critical acclaim for its timely exploration of extremism, authoritarianism and personal redemption, landing among the top-nominated films with strong showings in major categories.

Critics have hailed DiCaprio’s work as a “masterclass in veteran acting,” praising the subtle emotional layers he brings to a morally complex war journalist-turned-fugitive. Outlets like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter note strong Academy support for the performance, with voters frequently citing it as a plausible upset pick despite the film’s box-office underperformance compared to its predecessor, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”

The Best Actor field remains fiercely competitive. Timothée Chalamet earned his third nomination for “Marty Supreme,” showcasing his range in a controversial ballet-centered role that made him the youngest three-time nominee since Marlon Brando. Michael B. Jordan surges with momentum from “Sinners,” which shattered nomination records with 16 nods and secured the cast award at the Actor Awards. Ethan Hawke (“Blue Moon”) and Wagner Moura (“The Secret Agent”) round out the nominees, each bringing formidable cases for their first wins.

Predictions vary widely. Some forecasters, including those at Variety and Deadline, see Jordan gaining late ground after his SAG win, while others highlight DiCaprio’s institutional advantage as a previous winner and consistent high-caliber performer. Rotten Tomatoes and Next Best Picture analyses place the race as unusually open, with no clear frontrunner dominating precursor awards. Betting markets reflect the volatility, with shifting odds among Chalamet, Jordan and DiCaprio.

DiCaprio’s campaign has faced logistical hurdles. He skipped the 2026 Actor Awards — formerly the SAG Awards — due to filming Martin Scorsese’s “What Happens at Night” in Europe alongside Jennifer Lawrence. Reports indicate he may also miss the Oscars ceremony for similar reasons, though speculation persists about a potential red-carpet appearance with girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti, marking their first joint major event.

“One Battle After Another” itself contends strongly for Best Picture, often ranked second behind “Sinners” in projections. Anderson’s direction earns praise for its radical epic scope and ensemble work, including Penn’s menacing supporting turn as Col. Steven J. Lockjaw. The film secured nominations across technical categories and screenplay, benefiting from its VistaVision and IMAX presentation that showcased Anderson’s ambitious vision.

Despite solid reviews and awards buzz, the movie’s theatrical run fell short of blockbuster expectations, a contrast to DiCaprio’s star-driven hits. Streaming availability on HBO Max since December 2025 broadened its reach, allowing more Academy voters to engage with the performance during the voting window.

DiCaprio’s Oscar history adds intrigue. His 2016 win ended a long nomination streak without victory, including nods for “The Wolf of Wall Street,” “The Aviator” and others. A second statue would place him among elite multi-winners, though the Academy has historically been selective about granting them. Analysts note that his “latter-day” mode — intense, transformative roles in auteur projects — aligns perfectly with Oscar tastes, yet the category’s youth movement and first-time winners could prove decisive.

The ceremony, hosted by Conan O’Brien at the Dolby Theatre, airs live on ABC and streams on Hulu. With “Sinners” leading nominations and potential for genre breakthroughs, the night promises drama across categories. DiCaprio’s absence from recent events has fueled questions about his attendance, but his work remains central to discussions.

As ballots finalize, the conversation around DiCaprio underscores his enduring status in Hollywood. Whether he claims a second Oscar or not, his contribution to “One Battle After Another” reinforces why he remains one of the industry’s most respected leading men.

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Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott announced a transformative $42 million donation to Elizabeth City State University, a historically Black college and university in northeastern North Carolina, marking one of the largest gifts in the institution’s 135-year history.

Chancellor S. Keith Hargrove Sr. revealed the gift during the university’s Founders Day Convocation on Friday, March 13, 2026, eliciting cheers from attendees celebrating the school’s legacy. The unrestricted contribution ranks as the largest dollar-per-student gift among Scott’s recent donations to HBCUs and nearly triples the $15 million she gave ECSU in 2020.

“This gift allows institutions like Elizabeth City State University to move boldly toward the future while remaining grounded in the mission to educate, empower, and elevate students,” Hargrove said in the university’s official announcement. “Her investment affirms what we already know: that institutions like ECSU are powerful catalysts for change.”

Elizabeth City State University, founded in 1891 as a teacher-training school for Black students, enrolls around 2,000 undergraduates, primarily from North Carolina and surrounding areas. The school offers programs in aviation — the only four-year aviation degree at an HBCU in the state — alongside strong offerings in business, arts, STEM, and education. The donation arrives as ECSU advances its five-year strategic plan, ASCEND 2030, focused on student success, academic innovation, and infrastructure improvements.

Scott’s gift will fund endowed scholarship programs to support student learning and retention, establish resources for innovative academic initiatives, enhance athletic programs, and address critical campus infrastructure needs. University officials emphasized the funds’ flexibility, allowing ECSU to prioritize areas of greatest impact without donor restrictions — a hallmark of Scott’s philanthropy.

The contribution underscores Scott’s ongoing commitment to HBCUs. Since 2020, she has directed hundreds of millions to these institutions, with 2025 seeing over $1.1 billion in gifts to HBCUs, tribal colleges, community colleges, and organizations promoting college access for underserved students. Her total lifetime giving exceeds $26 billion, with $7.2 billion donated in 2025 alone — the highest annual total since she began publicizing her philanthropy.

Scott, former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has adopted a low-profile, high-impact approach. She identifies recipients through research and recommendations, often making large, unrestricted grants to organizations she believes can drive systemic change. Her focus includes equity, education, economic mobility, and community strength — priorities that align closely with HBCUs’ missions.

For ECSU, the timing proves pivotal. The university navigates challenges common to many small public institutions, including enrollment pressures and funding constraints. Hargrove highlighted the gift’s role in accelerating progress toward strategic goals, from expanding scholarships to modernizing facilities.

Community and state leaders praised the announcement. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper shared congratulations on social media, noting the donation’s significance for ECSU and HBCUs statewide. Local media and HBCU advocacy outlets described it as a “blockbuster” boost for the Viking Nation.

Scott’s pattern of repeat giving — this marks her second major gift to ECSU — reflects confidence in the university’s stewardship. In 2020, her $15 million contribution supported similar priorities during the pandemic recovery.

The donation drew widespread coverage from outlets including Forbes, HBCU GameDay, The Daily Advance, and university-affiliated channels. Social media buzz highlighted Scott’s reputation as a leading force in philanthropy, with some calling her the “greatest billionaire of all time” for her giving scale.

As Scott continues her quiet but prolific campaign, this gift reinforces her belief in the power of targeted investments in higher education. For Elizabeth City State University, the $42 million infusion promises lasting impact, enabling expanded opportunities for generations of students.

The university plans to provide further details on allocation as implementation begins. In the meantime, ECSU celebrates a milestone that strengthens its role as a beacon of opportunity in northeastern North Carolina.