We’re highly skeptical of Academy producers Jesse Collins, Stacey Sher, and Steven Soderbergh’s insistence that the 93rd Academy Awards is going to be a “movie” instead of an awards show. That being said, sometimes whatever means are necessary to make sure that this year’s Oscars ratings don’t drop to catastrophic levels. Today, the trio announced a “cast” of familiar faces who will present at this year’s ceremony and released a TV spot that insisted this Oscars won’t be like those other awards shows.
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Among what appears to be just an initial list of presenters are Angela Bassett, Halle Berry, Bong Joon Ho, Don Cheadle, Bryan Cranston, Laura Dern, Harrison Ford, Regina King, Marlee Matlin, Rita Moreno, Joaquin Phoenix, Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon, Renée Zellweger, and Zendaya. Of course, King, Phoenix, Zellweger, and Pitt are returning actor winners from 2020. Joon Ho won Original Screenplay, Direction, International Film, and Best Picture for “Parasite.”
In a statement, the producers noted, “In keeping with our awards-show-as-a-movie approach, we’ve assembled a truly stellar cast of stars. There’s so much wattage here, sunglasses may be required.”
Laying it on a bit thick there are we? We get it. You’re going for stars like so many Oscar producers before you.
Final Oscar voting for Academy members begins this Thursday, April 15, and ends on Tuesday, April 20.
The 93rd Oscars will be held on Sunday, April 25 at Union Station Los Angeles and the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, and international locations via satellite, and will be televised live on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The Oscars also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
