The beleaguered Oscars 2019 have been forging ahead without a host after Kevin Hart stepped down from the role amid controversy over old tweets. As part of an attempt to keep things exciting despite the lack of emcee, the Academy has been announcing various groups of celebrities who will be filling different roles throughout the evening via Twitter, and the latest set is a very mixed bag—as well as a combination of new and old show formats.
Gary Oldman, who won Best Actor for Darkest Hour last year, and Allison Janney, who won Best Supporting Actress for I, Tonya will present the Best Actor prize, together, as reported by Deadline. Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell, who won Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, will present Best Actress. This is somewhat of a reversal from previous rumors that the Academy would be doing away with this tradition entirely. The Supporting categories are still up for grabs.
As for the Best Picture category, the Academy released an incredibly wide-ranging list of names of people who will be on hand to present those nominees: Chef José Andrés, Dana Carvey, Queen Latifah, Congressman John Lewis, Diego Luna, Tom Morello, Mike Myers, Trevor Noah, Amandla Stenberg, Barbra Streisand and Serena Williams.
Here are the previously announced list of presenters—and we don't even know what they'll be doing!
Round 3: Elsie Fisher, Danai Gurira, Brian Tyree Henry, Michael B. Jordan, Michael Keaton, Helen Mirren, John Mulaney, Tyler Perry, Pharrell Williams, Krysten Ritter, Paul Rudd, and Michelle Yeoh.
Round 2: Javier Bardem, Angela Bassett, Chadwick Boseman, Emilia Clarke, Laura Dern, Samuel L. Jackson, Stephan James, Keegan-Michael Key, KiKi Layne, James McAvoy, Melissa McCarthy, Jason Momoa, and Sarah Paulson.
Round 1: Awkwafina, Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Tina Fey, Whoopi Goldberg, Brie Larson, Jennifer Lopez, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Amandla Stenberg, Charlize Theron, Tessa Thompson, and Constance Wu.
Taken all together, it seems like producers were listening to calls for the Oscars 2019 to appeal to a younger, hipper, less white audience (or, at least, anticipating their Twitter trolls): Poehler and Rudolph! Crazy Rich Asians stars Constance Wu and Awkwafina! Chadwick Boseman! Serena Williams! It also seems like they're not afraid to get political: José Andres, Barbra Streisand, and Rep. John Lewis are all notable critics of Donald Trump. Plus, they're upping their comedy quotient with John Mulaney, Keegan-Michael Key, and Melissa McCarthy. And there is still excitement built around the five musical acts who will be performing the Best Original Song nominees—the most is, of course, around Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper for A Star Is Born. We’re expecting to weep.
However, the latest addition also represents a flip back to the original script, in which past winners present new ones—so the Oscars might be trying to please everyone. Noble, but is it possible?