“Rumors are widespread, let’s say that, “joking raj kapoor, one of the executive producers of the 97th OscarOver zoom.
He and colleague Katy Mullan had not yet confirmed reports that Oscar-nominated “Wicked” stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande would perform on the Telecast March 2. Although it is still unclear if the musical couple will open the show, or make a medley of songs from the best picture nominated blockbuster, Kapoor said: “What we do at the beginning of show is a love letter to Los Angeles, and there is a beautiful filmAnd there is a beautiful performance. ”
There is still time to place bets on how these plans involve Erivo and Grande, or some of the other announced artists like Queen Latifah or “Born again“Collaborators Doja Cat, Raye and Lisa from Blackpink, but our money is at Los Angeles Master Chorale.
Kapoor and Mullan both confirm that the show will recognize the efforts that Rebuild Los Angeles after the devastating fire fires In January and their effects on the film industry. “So many people in that room have been affected,” Kapoor said. “We all know someone who has been affected by this … Many people will sit in the audience who may have dropped their home, or someone in their family has lost their home, or their school, or their church, or their favorite business. “He added,” Los Angeles is the heart of filmmaking. And so, all these filmmakers are in the room, we must have that message. “
Overall is the “connection” keyword for this year Academy AwardsAccording to the executive producers, and one of the biggest changes with this year’s show will be new host Conan O’Brien Like the one who unites everyone.
“Conan will be the perfect values, because what Conan has is this gift to be able to react in place on everything that happens in that room. For us, his gift of improv, his gift of quick wit, will be unmatched, ”Kapoor said. “Every time he goes into our room and we can spend some time with him, he constantly comes up with new ideas, reacts to what is said, what happens in the moment. We will see a lot of it on this show. Conan will be very present, and everything that happens live, expects Conan to admit (it). ”
Given the roller coaster, this award season has been, with many of the most important categories including the best image that is still up in the air, and scandals that plague several challengers, from AI use to offensive posts on social mediaThe show can use a host that can roll with the punches. But some of the changes in the show had been in the works long before anyone met translated on one of the best actress nominated Karla Sofía Gascón’s tweets.
For example, FAB Fives, Popular presentation format used for the actress categories Last year, where each nominee got their own commitment from a previous winner, is back in a different form. “There will be a version that is a development of the Fab Fives that we did last year,” Mullan said, “but this time, for some of the non-acting categories … and again, big stars on stage and Talked from the heart, making it personal and celebrating all the amazing connections that define the films we celebrate this year.
“That decision was made in advance,” Kapoor said. “We would love to make the actress categories, but it is challenging to book five previous winners presented for this year’s nominees,” he said. “There are only a large number of presenters to happen. This year, creatively, we shifted our focus, we put them in a couple of different places. So, Fab Five returns, just not in the actor categories. ”
Why nominated Oscar’s Dittch performances of every best original song in favor of a package that illuminates its songwriters? “There is a team of people who do not work with anything else, but who actually help us create this film, and it’s about songwriting and the process,” Kapoor said. “The specific nomination package will have a different focus this year. You will definitely hear pieces of the songs within it, but we also talk to the songwriters and have their input and some BTS, maybe, about how some of the songs actually became. And we also do it for some other disciplines. A few different categories are presented a little differently. “
In the end you will Several Emmy wins For the show 2024, including one for Outstanding Variety Special (Live), Onus has been on the producers to “continue to re -form, reinvent, re -focus,” Kapoor said. “We make constant edits. There are people added every day that will be part of this Oscars. There are some really fun Komos that will be announced. ”
However, a familiar face that does not return to the show is four times worth Jimmy Kimmel, who the executive produced the last show with Kapoor and Mullan, as well as his partner Molly McNearney. As much as the producers are happy for O’Brien, they admit that they checked in with the late evening’s host first, given last year’s success and the show that is still broadcast in his home network, ABC.
“We absolutely loved Jimmy. Jimmy and Molly are so amazing partners. Jimmy has done a fantastic job that hosted this show. And of course, an offer was made to Jimmy, ”Kapoor said. McNearney told IndieWire in May 2024 That she and Kimmel rejected a fifth time to produce and host because of the extra pressure to also have to cover the presidential election on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” About the same time, they would have been obliged to start planning for the Academy Awards. “It’s important to have some charging and actually make eye contact with the kids for a few weeks,” she said. “I look forward to coming back and being able to communicate all possible feelings about the current climate.”
When it comes to Kimmel, Kapoor also said: “We were so lucky that he invested his time, but it is also a huge commitment … We would like to have him back.”
2025 Oscars will be broadcast live on ABC and Stream Live on Hulu on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at. 19.00 et/16.00 pt.
