Oscars 2024: Ariana Grande, Ryan Gosling, Anya Taylor-Joy added to list of presenters

As anticipation builds for the 96th Oscars ceremony scheduled for this Sunday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has unveiled another stellar lineup of presenters set to grace the big stage.
Joining the previously announced list of presenters are a host of A-list celebrities including Emily Blunt, Cynthia Erivo, America Ferrera, Sally Field, Ryan Gosling, Ariana Grande, Ben Kingsley, Melissa McCarthy, Issa Rae, Tim Robbins, Steven Spielberg, Mary Steenburgen, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlize Theron, Christoph Waltz, and Forest Whitaker.
This star-studded ensemble will add to the glittery affair, which already boasts an impressive roster of presenters, including Mahershala Ali, Bad Bunny, Nicolas Cage, Jamie Lee Curtis, Brendan Fraser, Chris Hemsworth, Dwayne Johnson, Michael Keaton, Regina King, Jessica Lange, Jennifer Lawrence, Matthew McConaughey, Kate McKinnon, Rita Moreno, John Mulaney, Lupita Nyong’o, Catherine O’Hara, Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Ke Huy Quan, Sam Rockwell, Octavia Spencer, Michelle Yeoh, Ramy Youssef, and Zendaya.
Just last week it was reported that five past Oscar winners will have the honour of introducing the current nominees in all four acting categories. This format, which proved immensely popular when first introduced 15 years ago, has Oscar enthusiasts excited for the show.
While the specific assignments of presenters to awards remain under wraps, speculation suggests that last year’s four acting winners—Brendan Fraser, Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, and Jamie Lee Curtis—will likely be among the five presenters for their respective categories, adhering to Academy tradition.
Here's everything you need to know about this year's show:
WHEN ARE THE OSCARS?
The Oscars will be held Sunday, March 10 (Monday, March 11 IST), at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The ceremony is set to begin at 7 p.m. EDT - one hour earlier than usual. A preshow will begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT (4.30 am IST). This is your early reminder to set your clocks accordingly - it's the first day of daylight saving time in the U.S.
WILL THERE BE ANY PERFORMANCES?
Yes, all the original song nominees will be performed on the show. That means Ryan Gosling will serenade everyone with Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt's "Barbie" power ballad "I'm Just Ken" and Billie Eilish will soulfully sing "What Was I Made For," which she co-wrote with Finneas O'Connell. The other nominated songs include Diane Warren's "The Fire Inside," from "Flamin' Hot," to be performed by Becky G, " Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson's "It Never Went Away" from "American Symphony," and Scott George's "Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)" from "Killers of the Flower Moon."
ARE THE OSCARS STREAMING?
The show will be available to stream via ABC.com. You can also watch through services including Hulu Live TV, YouTubeTV, AT&T TV and FuboTV. Indian viewers can tune in to Disney+ Hotstar to watch the show live.
WHO'S HOSTING THE OSCARS?
Jimmy Kimmel, who hosted last year's ceremony, will emcee for the fourth time. That ties him with fellow four-timers Whoopi Goldberg and Jack Lemmon, and leaves Kimmel trailing only Johnny Carson (five), Billy Crystal (nine) and Bob Hope (11) among repeat Oscar hosts. "I always dreamed of hosting the Oscars exactly four times," said Kimmel.
WHICH FILMS ARE NOMINATED FOR BEST PICTURE AT THE 2024 OSCARS?
The 10 nominees for best picture are: "American Fiction"; "Anatomy of a Fall"; "Barbie"; "The Holdovers"; "Killers of the Flower Moon"; "Maestro"; "Oppenheimer"; "Past Lives"; "Poor Things"; and "The Zone of Interest."
WHO ARE THE FAVOURITES?
Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" is the frontrunner. Nolan, the best director favourite, is also poised to win his first Oscar. The best actress category could be a nail-biter between Lily Gladstone ("Killers of the Flower Moon") and Emma Stone ("Poor Things"). If Gladstone were to win, she would be the first Native American to win an Oscar.
Best actor, too, could be a close contest between Cillian Murphy ("Oppenheimer") and Paul Giamatti ("The Holdovers"). Both would be first-time winners. Giamatti's co-star Da'Vine Joy Randolph is favoured to win best supporting actress, while Robert Downey Jr. ("Oppenheimer") is expected to win best-supporting actor. His closest competition is considered to be Ryan Gosling for "Barbie."
WHAT WAS THE 'BARBIE' SNUB?
While "Barbie," 2023's biggest box-office hit, comes in with eight nominations, much discussion has revolved around the nominations the film didn't receive. Greta Gerwig was left out of the directing category and Margot Robbie missed out on best actress. In those omissions, some have seen reflections of the misogyny parodied in "Barbie," while others have noted the tough reception comedies have historically had at the Oscars. The nominations for "Barbie" include Best Adapted Screenplay (by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach), best supporting actress for America Ferrera and two best song nominees in "What Was I Made For" and "I'm Just Ken."
ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO THE OSCARS THIS YEAR?
Though recent Oscars have been marked by everything from slaps, envelope snafus and controversies over which awards are presented live during the telecast, this year's show comes in with no big changes (besides starting an hour earlier). All of the awards are to be broadcast live (though honorary prizes remain separated in the earlier, untelevised Governors Awards ). The academy is adding a new award for best casting, but that trophy won't be presented until the 2026 Oscars.
WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO LOOK FOR?
Composer John Williams earned his record 49th nomination for a best score Oscar, for "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny," his 54th nod overall. Godzilla is going to the Oscars for the first time, with "Godzilla Minus One" notching a nomination for best visual effects. And also for the first time, two non-English language films are up for best picture: the German-language Auschwitz drama "The Zone of Interest" and the French courtroom drama "Anatomy of a Fall."