Following historic rating lows for the 93rd Oscars, the Academy of Motion Pictures has decided to bring on a new producer for the 94th Academy Awards, Will Packer. The prolific film producer of films such as “Straight Outta Compton,” “Girls Trip” and “Obsessed” has a major challenge on his hands, but AMPAS leadership seems very enthusiastic about his coming on board.
READ MORE: The Best and Worst of the 2021 Academy Awards
In a statement, Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson jointly noted, “Will is a powerhouse producer who has enjoyed success across all movie genres. He’s already bringing a boundless energy and a focus on innovation to this year’s Oscars, to entertain the widest spectrum of fans. Many wonderful surprises ahead!”
Packer added, “The power, the beauty, the romance of the imagery in movies has always attracted me. I’m fully embracing the challenge of bringing an ode to one of the most iconic mediums in the world to life. What an honor!”
“There is no one better than Will Packer to celebrate our collective love for cinema,” remarked Craig Erwich, president, Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment. “Will is a world-class hitmaker and the ideal producer to capture the prestige of The Oscars and deliver a powerful and moving event.”
Packers other film credits include “The Photograph,” “Little,” “What Men Want,” “Night School,” “Breaking In,” “Ride Along 2,” “No Good Deed,” “Ride Along,” “Think Like a Man,” “Takers,” “Obsessed” and “Stomp the Yard.” His television credits include the Emmy nominated remake of “Roots.”
Shayla Cowan, chief of staff of Will Packer Productions and Will Packer Media, will serve as co-producer alongside Packer. It’s unclear at this time if Emmy-winning director Glenn Weiss will return to helm this year’s broadcast.
Also up in the air is whether Packer can convince the Academy and ABC to bring a host back for the ceremony. The Oscars have not had a host since Jimmy Kimmel in 2018. It should be noted, however, Packer has a long-running working relationship with “almost” Oscar host Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish, Regina Hall, and Ice Cube.
The 2021 Academy Awards were produced by the trio of Jesse Collins, Stacey Sher, and Steven Soderbergh. It was almost unanimously criticized for not encouraging viewers to return to the movies or celebrating the joy of movies in general. Musical performances were relegated to the pre-show and the telecast was almost devoid of any comedic or entertaining moments. The ceremony also took place at Los Angeles’ Union Station in a hybrid indoor/outdoor setup. The 2022 Oscars are expected to return to its traditional home, the Dolby Theater in Hollywood.
The Oscars will air live on ABC and broadcast outlets worldwide on Sunday, March 27, 2022.