Who could forget the slap that rocked last year’s Oscars?
This year’s Academy Awards is still dealing with the effects of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock on-stage at last year’s event.
With the Best Actor consequently barred from the Oscars for a decade, this leaves a key presenting spot open for casting.
WATCH: Will Smith slaps Chris Rock at Oscars 2022
Per Academy Awards tradition, the reigning Best Actor award-winner presents the following year’s Best Actress with her statue.
With King Richard star Will Smith out for the count, we’re all wondering who will present Michelle Yeoh, Cate Blanchett, Ana de Armas, Michelle Williams or Andrea Riseborough with the Best Actress in a Motion Picture award at the 95th Academy Awards.
See the best red carpet looks from the 2023 Academy Awards
So far, the event organisers are staying tight-lipped on who exactly will present the award but have revealed there will be a shake-up.
“I came in and everyone says, ‘This is what we used to do’ and there is no more, ‘This is what we used to do,’” Oscars co-producer Ricky Kirshner said.
“We rethought the show and we put presenters together in ways that make sense for the category and you’ll see on Sunday night.”
Host Jimmy Kimmel address last year’s controversy in his opening monologue. “If anyone in this theatre commits an act of violence during this show, you will be awarded the Oscars for Best Actor and be permitted to give a 19-minute speech,” Kimmel joked.
Regarding presenter changes, there is no word on whether changes will stretch across categories.
Last year’s Best Actress winner, Jessica Chastain, is confirmed to present, along with other acting category winners Ariana DeBose and Troy Kotsur.
WATCH: Jada Pinkett Smith on Will Smith and Chris Rock altercation (Article continues after video)
The Oscars are no stranger to controversy, and having a presenter MIA is nothing new.
Following accusations of sexual assault after his Best Actor win, Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea) bowed out of his presenting duties, leaving former winners Jennifer Lawrence and Jodie Foster to present Frances McDormand with her award for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri.
While there’s no word on who exactly will replace Smith, other presenters on the roster include Nicole Kidman, Pedro Pascal, Cara Delevingne, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Samuel L Jackson, Zoe Saldana, Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver, Salma Hayek, Riz Ahmed, Melissa McCarthy, Halle Berry, John Travolta, and Jennifer Connelly, to name a few.
Co-stars are being paired together for presenting duties, including Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson (Jungle Cruise) and Michael B Jordan and Jonathan Majors (Creed III).
Rom-com fans will also be excited for a reunion of Four Weddings and a Funeral stars Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell.
Meanwhile, the Internet is likely to adore the presenter pairing of beloved Brits and past nominees Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
