The 98th annual Academy Awards ceremony will feature a stellar lineup of presenters, including last year's acting award recipients Adrien Brody, Mikey Madison, Zoe Saldaña, and Kieran Culkin. These celebrated actors are set to return to the prestigious stage to present the coveted trophies to this year's winners, continuing a long-standing tradition of the Academy. This early announcement by executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan builds anticipation for one of Hollywood's most glamorous nights.
Adrien Brody secured his second Best Actor Oscar for his compelling role in "The Brutalist," where he portrayed an architect and Holocaust survivor. Mikey Madison earned the Best Actress title for her captivating performance as a stripper in the dramedy "Anora." Kieran Culkin was recognized for Best Supporting Actor for his sharp portrayal in "A Real Pain," a film exploring a Jewish heritage tour. Zoe Saldaña also received a Best Supporting Actress award for her role as a lawyer in the Spanish-language musical "Emilia Pérez." Their collective return signifies a continuation of the Academy's tradition of having previous year's victors present to new laureates.
Historically, the Academy Awards frequently invite past acting winners to participate as presenters. This practice often involves a "gender-swapped" approach, where male winners from the previous year present the actress categories, and female winners present the actor categories, or variations of a "fab five" format where multiple past winners from a single category present together. The specific categories that Brody, Culkin, Madison, and Saldaña will present have not yet been disclosed, leaving an element of suspense for the upcoming ceremony.
This year's nominations are prominently led by the film "Sinners," a vampire epic directed by Ryan Coogler, which garnered an unprecedented 16 nominations. Following closely is Paul Thomas Anderson's political action film "One Battle After Another," which secured 13 nominations. Both features are contenders for Best Picture, alongside other notable films such as "Bugonia," "F1," "Frankenstein," "Hamnet," "Marty Supreme," "The Secret Agent," "Sentimental Value," and "Train Dreams." As the awards season progresses, significant events like the BAFTA Awards, Producers Guild of America Awards, and The Actor Awards will offer further insights into the potential momentum for these acclaimed films leading up to the Oscars.
The final voting period for the Oscars is scheduled from February 26 through March 5. Comedian Conan O’Brien is set to host the telecast, which will air live on March 15 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT from the iconic Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. The ceremony will be broadcast on ABC and will also be available for live streaming on Hulu, reaching audiences in over 200 territories worldwide, ensuring a global celebration of cinematic achievement.
The much-anticipated 98th Academy Awards will honor outstanding achievements in cinema, with an array of talented individuals gracing the stage. The ceremony is expected to be a global spectacle, celebrating the creativity and dedication within the film industry.