HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES — The countdown to Hollywood’s biggest night is officially on! Who will win Oscar gold?
Excitement is brewing as the 97th annual Academy Awards prepares to take place at the renowned Dolby Theatre in Hollywood this Sunday. The prestigious event is expected to crown some newcomers as Oscar winners in key categories. To view a comprehensive list of nominees, click here.
The ceremony kicks off 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT and will be broadcast by ABC and streamed on Hulu. Conan O’Brien is hosting for the first time.
It’s the second year the Oscars are starting earlier in the hope that the best picture award will be announced before audiences go to bed.
Amid the anticipation, Los Angeles is bracing for light rain on Sunday morning. The city is still in the process of recovery from the recent wildfires that caused significant damage to areas like Pacific Palisades and Altadena earlier this year.
The impact of the fires was deeply felt across the film industry and among members of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Following the devastation, there were calls for the cancellation of the Hollywood awards season. Despite narrowly escaping the fires that ravaged his neighborhood, O’Brien, a prominent figure, has been residing in a hotel for the past two months. The organizers of the Oscars have emphasized that this year’s ceremony will pay tribute to the city’s unwavering spirit and resilience.
The awards ceremony went through a shakeup when Harrison Ford canceled his presenting role after he was diagnosed with shingles. But stepping in is none other than “Star Wars” actor Mark Hamill. Other presenters inlucde Ben Stiller, Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldaña.
Is there an Oscar favorite?
The lead nominee is Netflix’s “Emilia Pérez,” with 13 nominations, but that film has seen its chances crater following uproar over years-old offensive tweets by its star, Karla SofÃa Gascón, the first openly trans actor nominated for best actress.
The favorite is Sean Baker’s “Anora,” about a sex worker who weds the son of a Russian oligarch. The Neon release, the Cannes Palme d’Or winner, won with the producers, directors and writers guild. The only movie with the same resume to not win best picture is “Brokeback Mountain.”
Its closest competition is “Conclave,” the papal thriller starring Ralph Fiennes. It won at the BAFTAs and the SAG Awards, wins that came just as Pope Francis was hospitalized for double pneumonia. Oscar voting concluded before the pope fell ill.
Also in the mix are “The Brutalist,” nominated for 10 awards, and the musical hit “Wicked,” also with 10 nominations. Several of the early craft Oscars could be shared between “Wicked” and “Dune: Part Two.”
Will Timothée Chalamet win his first Oscar?
While the supporting acting categories feature overwhelming favorites in Zoe Saldana (“Emilia Pérez”) and Kieran Culkin (“A Real Pain”), both best actor and best actress are close contests.
In best actress, Demi Moore (“The Substance”) is most likely to win, but Mikey Madison (“Anora”) or Fernanda Torres (“I’m Still Here”) could pull off the upset.
Adrien Brody is favored in best actor for his performance in “The Brutalist.” But Timothée Chalamet stands a decent chance of beating him, for his performance as Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown.” The 29-year-old Chalamet, who won at the Screen Actors Guild, would become the youngest best actor winner ever, edging Brody’s record, set in 2003 in his win for “The Pianist.”
March 2 is Oscar Sunday! Watch the 2025 Oscars live on ABC and Hulu.
Live red carpet coverage starts at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT with “On The Red Carpet at the Oscars.”
Watch all the action on the red carpet live on ABC, streaming live on OnTheRedCarpet.com and On The Red Carpet’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
The 97th Oscars, hosted by Conan O’Brien, begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. and will be followed by a special preview of “American Idol.”
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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