Invasion of the sci-fi blockbusters

Science-fiction blockbusters made a surprisingly strong showing in the nominations for the Producers Guild of America’s top film award Tuesday morning with “Avatar,” “District 9” and “Star Trek” among the group’s 10 nominees.

The other nominees are: “An Education,” “The Hurt Locker,” “Inglourious Basterds,” “Invictus,” “Precious,” “Up” and “Up in the Air.”

The Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year film award is a reliable bellwether for the Academy Award for best picture. Last year’s PGA winner, “Slumdog Millionaire,” went on to capture Oscar’s top prize. And 13 PGA winners over the last two decades have gone on to win the best picture Oscar.

And like the Oscars, the PGA this year also expanded its best picture nomination list from five to 10. Its eclectic group of films, which range from mainstream hits to small independent productions, could well mirror the 10 film choices that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announces Feb. 2.

Disney / Pixar’s “Up” was also nominated for the Producer of the Year Award in the animated film category with “9,” “Coraline,” “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and “The Princess and the Frog.” Nominees in the documentary category are “Burma VJ,” “The Cove,” “Sergio” and “Soundtrack for a Revolution.”

On the TV side, the nominees for the David L. Wolper Producer of the Year Award in Long-Form Television are “Georgia O’Keeffe,” “Grey Gardens,” “Little Dorrit,” “Prayers for Bobby,” “The Prisoner” and “Taking Chance.”

The nominations for TV series and nonfiction categories were announced in November. The awards will be handed out Jan. 24 during a ceremony at the Hollywood Palladium.

Four of the PGA’s 10 best picture nominees also earned nods Tuesday for the USC Libraries 22nd Annual Scripter Award: “District 9,” “An Education,” “Precious” and “Up in the Air.” The drama “Crazy Heart” rounded out the Scripter field of nominees.

The award honors both the author and screenwriter of film adaptations. Members of the selection committee include Naomi Foner, T Bone Burnett, Michael Chabon, Leonard Maltin and Times film critic Kenneth Turan.

The last two years’ Scripter winners -- “No Country for Old Men” and “Slumdog Millionaire” -- went on to receive the Oscar for best picture.

The five finalists are:

“Crazy Heart”: Scott Cooper, screenwriter; Thomas Cobb, author.

“District 9”: Neill Blomkamp, screenwriter and author; Terri Tatchell, screenwriter.

“An Education”: Nick Hornby, screenwriter; Lynn Barber, author.

“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”: Geoffrey Fletcher, screenwriter; Sapphire, author.

“Up in the Air”: Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, screenwriters; Walter Kirn, author.

The winner will be announced at a ceremony Feb. 6 at USC’s Edward L. Doheny Memorial Library. For a complete list of nominees go to TheEnvelope.latimes.com

susan.king@latimes.com