Hailing a “turning point” 98th Oscars on Sunday (March 15) in the run-up to the 2028 centenary ceremony, Academy showrunners have promised an event that will be steeped in humanity, music, cast reunions from the Marvel universe and Bridesmaids, and an “extra-terrestrial” on stage.
“Our theme this year is humanity,” Raj Kapoor, executive producer and showrunner, said in a press conference on Wednesday two days before the ceremony’s test run. “We’ve completely redesigned what the stage looks like. It’s immersive.”
Executive producer Katy Mullan said the goal was to cap the show at three-and-a-half hours. “It will feel like a party that you’re dying to be at,” she said. Asked what message the ceremony will send to international audiences around the world, the producers echoed one of the Academy’s clearest messages under the tenure of CEO Bill Kramer.
“We all share connections, truths and stories,” Mullan noted. ”There’s an international film in every single category. Even through the world can feel really divided, through cinema all these stories can connect us.” Kapoor added: “This is not just a show about North American film. The Oscars is about global and international cinema.”
The producers said the usual strict security protocols will be in place over the weekend. Kapoor commented that preparations were taking place with the support of the FBI and Los Angeles police. The FBI has warned California law enforcement of a possible drone attack on the West Coast from Iran in retaliation over the ongoing US and Israeli attacks on Iran. ”We want everybody to feel safe, protected, and welcome,” Kapoor said.
Musical performances will take centre stage at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood in keeping with a ”turning point” that Kapoor said will usher in a “new vision”. Interpretations of best song nominees and broader musical celebrations will see Korean drummers and singers perform Golden from KPop Demon Hunters, while Sinners writer-director Ryan Coogler, costume designer Ruth E. Carter, choreographer Aakoman Jones, cast members, and legendary ballet dancer Misty Copeland have collaborated with the show producers on a tribute to Coogler’s film, which enters the ceremony as the most-nominated film ever on 16.
Comedian Conan O’Brien returns for his second consecutive stint as host. “What’s happening in the world will be reflected throughout the show,” O’Brien said, adding that despite working on his opening monolgue and other segments for months with longtime collaborators Mike Sweeney and Jeff Ross, adjustments were ongoing daily. “My job is to hit this thin line between entertaining people and also acknowledging some of the realities. It is a dance that goes on up until the show begins.”
O’Brien, who recalled staying at a hotel during last year’s show because the Los Angeles fires had rendered his home uninhabitable, also riffed on the nature of his hosting job. “Working on the Oscars is like driving a Maserati: so responsive, so fast, fuel-efficient,” he said. ”I’m trying to make a pitch to Maserati. I don’t have one. It’s an amazing car. And I’d like to have one. In lime green if possible, and shipped to my home. I’m not deluded at all.”
Production designer Misty Buckley noted, “Last year was very monolithic and temple-like. This year we were looking at reverential spaces. Beautiful light, organic forms. We’ve got lots of architectural layers. There’s quite a lot of kinesis in the set and it moves and reveals. There’s beautiful light cast by trees… We’re really leaning into that human touch, nature and organic, with beautiful bold forms as well.”
Matt Berry from What We Do In The Shadows and The IT Crowd will be the show announcer.
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