Past Winners Will Introduce Each Acting Nominee

The Oscars ceremony that took place in 2009 remains an all-time favorite for many who watched it, including your humble correspondent, largely because of the thrilling way in which the four acting Oscars were presented: five past winners introduced the five current nominees for each award. This resulted in massive standing ovations from the audience at the Dolby (even award show veterans like Brad Pitt and Meryl Streep looked absolutely giddy in cutaway shots); introductory remarks from past winners that left current nominees visibly moved (Anne Hathaway was in tears); and group hugs of the new winners that were akin to welcoming them into an elite fraternity or sorority (see: Kate Winslet).

Over the 15 years since that night, Oscar lovers have been begging the Academy to bring back this Field of Dreams-like format. The Hollywood Reporter has learned and the Academy has confirmed that come March 10, they will get their wish.

The Academy never reveals who will be presenting which awards ahead of the big night, but one can safely assume, given Academy tradition, that last year’s four acting winners — Brendan Fraser, Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis — will be among the five presenters for their respective categories. Indeed, they were all on the first list of confirmed presenters announced by the Academy on Monday.

One can also probably read between the lines of that announcement to figure out some of the other past winners who will be presenting alongside them. The list included past best actor winners Nicolas Cage, Matthew McConaughey and Al Pacino; past best actress winner Jessica Lange; past best supporting actor winners Mahershala Ali and Sam Rockwell; and past best supporting actress winner Lupita Nyong’o. (The Academy will announce more presenters in the coming days.)

For those who would like a trip down memory lane, below are video clips from the 2009 ceremony.