Hollywood’s Screen Actors Guild Awards are officially getting a new identity after three decades, and Kristen Bell has been tasked with telling all 160,000 SAG-AFTRA members about the change—one phone call at a time. Netflix just dropped a hilarious trailer showing the Nobody Wants This star attempting to reach every single member, from Meryl Streep to Leonardo DiCaprio, to announce that the ceremony is now simply called The Actor Awards.
The newly-renamed show streams live on Netflix March 1 at 8 PM ET, with Bell returning as host for what promises to be one of Hollywood’s most important nights before the Oscars.
Why This Name Change Matters Now
The rebranding comes as the awards show reaches global audiences through Netflix, which has streamed the ceremony since 2023. SAG-AFTRA officials explained that outside Hollywood, many international viewers didn’t understand what “SAG” stood for, creating confusion about the show’s purpose.
“Since the show started over 30 years ago, our iconic statuette has always been called The Actor,” SAG-AFTRA stated on their website. “Simply evolving the show’s name to align with the award itself made obvious sense”.
The change became official in November 2025 when producers announced it to the SAG-AFTRA board, but the marketing push began with Monday’s trailer release.
The Kristen Bell Trailer Everyone’s Sharing
The promotional trailer leans into the absurdity of the rebranding challenge. Bell sits at a phone bank attempting to personally inform every single union member about the name change, encountering voicemails, wrong numbers, and confused responses.
Highlight moments include:
- Calling Adrien Brody: “We work together, like, currently”
- Trying to reach Meryl Streep multiple times: “Meryl Streep is not available”
- Requesting Leonardo DiCaprio: “I need the password. The Actor Awards”
- Calling Michael B. Jordan: “Michael B., it’s Kristen B.”
- Accidentally calling ER’s Noah Wyle: “Dr. Wyle. Sorry, I know you hate when I call you that”
- Suggesting Timothée Chalamet go by “Tim Tam Chalaman”
The trailer ends with Bell realizing she has “volume one of ten” messages still to go, emphasizing the impossible scale of her task.
What Stays the Same
Despite the name change, the core concept remains identical: actors honoring fellow actors for outstanding performances in film and television. The iconic “Actor” statuette—a figure of a man and woman standing back-to-back—continues as the trophy.
The ceremony still takes place at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles on March 1, with Silent House Productions returning as producers. Jon Brockett serves as showrunner alongside Emmy-winning executive producers Baz Halpin, Mark Bracco, and Linda Gierahn.
Most importantly, the awards remain a crucial predictor for Oscar winners, often signaling which performances will dominate at the Academy Awards weeks later.
This Year’s Major Nominees
The 32nd Annual Actor Awards announced nominations in January, with major contenders including:
Film – Male Actor:
- Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme
- Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
- Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon
- Michael B. Jordan – Sinners
Television Drama – Male Actor:
- Sterling K. Brown – Paradise
- Billy Crudup – The Morning Show
- Walton Goggins – The White Lotus
- Gary Oldman – Slow Horses
Television Limited Series – Male Actor:
- Jason Bateman – Black Rabbit
- Stephen Graham – Adolescence
The full nominations span film and television categories, including ensemble casts, stunt ensembles, and both dramatic and comedic performances.
Why Kristen Bell Is the Perfect Host
Bell previously hosted the ceremony and brings the perfect mix of humor, Hollywood credibility, and relatability. Her current hit Netflix series Nobody Wants This makes her an ideal fit for the streaming platform’s presentation.
SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin praised the choice during the nominations announcement livestream, emphasizing Bell’s connection with both industry members and general audiences.
The Netflix Partnership
Netflix has exclusively streamed The Actor Awards (formerly SAG Awards) since 2023, part of the platform’s push into live event programming. The partnership allows the ceremony to reach global audiences simultaneously, expanding beyond traditional broadcast television.
This worldwide reach directly influenced the name change decision. As producers explained: “The audience grew globally through Netflix, so we decided it was the right moment to make this alignment official, marking a confident transition into a new era for the awards”.
What Hollywood Insiders Are Saying
The rebranding has received mixed reactions within the industry. Some appreciate the clarity for international audiences, while others worry about losing the SAG brand recognition built over 30 years.
However, most agree the change makes sense for Netflix’s global platform. The term “Actor Awards” immediately communicates what viewers are watching, unlike “SAG” which requires Hollywood insider knowledge to understand.
Mark Your Calendar
The 32nd Annual Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRA streams live exclusively on Netflix on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT. The ceremony runs approximately three hours and features performances, tributes, and the industry’s most anticipated awards before the Oscars.
And thanks to Kristen Bell’s phone campaign, all 160,000 SAG-AFTRA members should definitely know about the name change by then—even if Meryl Streep’s voicemail remains unbreached.