Oscars to rejoice Godfather, Bond, Bruno

By PTI

LOS ANGELES: James Bond didn’t get an Oscar nomination this yr, 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 any case, and the fiftieth anniversary of “The Godfather” and people landmarks won’t go uncelebrated Sunday on the 94th Oscars.

“We have some surprises around that. Wink, wink,” Will Packer, who’s producing the present, mentioned Thursday.

It’s all a part of the overriding theme of the yr: “Movie lovers unite.”

“Movies are the one thing that actually do unite so many of us as a global community,” Packer mentioned. “Movies make you feel something, they inspire you, they make you aspire.”

Packer was joined by hosts Regina Hall 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 worry, it’s not COVID.”

They promised a crowd-pleasing evening of escape and celebration, together with a efficiency of the hit “Encanto” tune “We Don’t Talk 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.

Despite the success of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” it won’t vie for an Oscar on Sunday. The Spanish-language tune “Dos Oruguitas” is nominated for greatest unique tune.

And whereas there won’t be a Glenn Close “Da Butt” repeat deliberate, Sykes laughed that they talked about having Dame Judi Dench “do the worm.”

The present is aiming to recuperate from final yr’s rankings low and have made drastic strides to maintain the runtime to 3 hours, together with the controversial determination handy out eight awards earlier than the present and edit into the stay telecast.

“We’re going to make sure that everybody has their moment,” Packer mentioned. “It’s about celebrating the most talented people and what they do.”

They will even return to the custom of ending the evening with one of the best image class after final yr’s experiment closing on greatest actor. And, Packer mentioned, although they’ve introduced a military of high-profile presenters, from Lady Gaga to Bill Murray, that they haven’t essentially revealed but who will likely be presenting one of the best image award.

As for the hosts, Sykes mentioned they need “everyone to have a good time” however aren’t “going to trash anyone … none of us are mean spirited.”

The three ladies will open the present collectively but in addition get solo moments to shine.

Packer mentioned they may acknowledge the state of the world respectfully, together with the pandemic and the struggle, however that he desires the night to be at the beginning “a celebration, a release, an escape for people who really need it.”

Behind the scenes, the pandemic remains to be prime of thoughts for these concerned, particularly after studies that some obtained COVID-19 after attending the BAFTAs in London. The Academy is requiring each attendee to submit two adverse PCR exams earlier than the present. Audience members additionally must be vaccinated.

“We want to make sure that everybody is safe coming to the show,” mentioned Packer, who declined to speak about whether or not he knew of any particular person nominees who had COVID-19. “We have a lot of protocols in place … We want to pull off a show that keeps everyone safe.”

The Oscars will likely be broadcast stay Sunday on ABC starting at 8 p.m. EDT.