The producer and hosts of the Oscars are promising a crowd-pleasing evening of escape and celebration. Plus, one second that is positive to be a household favourite.
LOS ANGELES — James Bond didn’t get an Oscar nomination this 12 months, however that doesn’t imply that he gained’t be a part of the ceremony.
It’s the sixtieth anniversary of the primary 007 film, in spite of everything, and the fiftieth anniversary of “The Godfather” and people landmarks is not going to go uncelebrated Sunday on the 94th Oscars.
“We’ve got some surprises round that. Wink, wink,” Will Packer, who’s producing the present, mentioned Thursday.
It’s all a part of the overriding theme of the 12 months: “Film lovers unite.”
“Films are the one factor that really do unite so many people as a worldwide group,” Packer mentioned. “Films make you are feeling one thing, they encourage you, they make you aspire.”
Packer was joined by hosts Regina Corridor and Wanda Sykes, director Glenn Weiss, co-producer Shayla Cowan, Oscars manufacturing designer David Korins and musical director Adam Blackstone to preview the ceremony, which is simply days away.
Amy Schumer, who’s the third host of the night, was not current however had a message that her colleagues delivered: “Don’t fear, it’s not COVID.”
They promised a crowd-pleasing evening of escape and celebration, together with a efficiency of the hit “Encanto” track “We Do not Discuss About Bruno.” Latin music powerhouses Luis Fonsi and Becky G will be part of members of the movie’s solid throughout a efficiency of the Lin-Manuel Miranda hit, which soared to No. 1 on the Billboard charts, the academy mentioned.
Regardless of the success of “We Do not Discuss About Bruno,” it is not going to vie for an Oscar on Sunday. The Spanish-language track “Dos Oruguitas” is nominated for greatest authentic track.
And whereas there won’t be a Glenn Shut “Da Butt” repeat deliberate, Sykes laughed that they talked about having Dame Judi Dench “do the worm.”
The present is aiming to get better from final 12 months’s scores low and have made drastic strides to maintain the runtime to 3 hours, together with the controversial resolution handy out eight awards earlier than the present and edit into the reside telecast.
“We’re going to guarantee that everyone has their second,” Packer mentioned. “It’s about celebrating probably the most gifted individuals and what they do.”
They will even return to the custom of ending the evening with the very best image class after final 12 months’s experiment closing on greatest actor. And, Packer mentioned, although they’ve introduced a military of high-profile presenters, from Girl Gaga to Invoice Murray, that they haven’t essentially revealed but who might be presenting the very best image award.
As for the hosts, Sykes mentioned they need “everybody to have a superb time” however aren’t “going to trash anybody … none of us are imply spirited.”
The three girls will open the present collectively but in addition get solo moments to shine.
Packer mentioned they are going to acknowledge the state of the world respectfully, together with the pandemic and the conflict, however that he desires the night to be at the beginning “a celebration, a launch, an escape for individuals who really want it.”
Behind the scenes, the pandemic continues to be prime of thoughts for these concerned, particularly after stories that some obtained COVID-19 after attending the BAFTAs in London. The Academy is requiring each attendee to submit two detrimental PCR exams earlier than the present. Viewers members additionally need to be vaccinated.
“We need to guarantee that everyone is secure coming to the present,” mentioned Packer, who declined to speak about whether or not he knew of any particular person nominees who had COVID-19. “We’ve got loads of protocols in place … We need to pull off a present that retains everybody secure.”
The Oscars might be broadcast reside Sunday on ABC starting at 8 p.m. EDT.
