When Stephan James and KiKi Layne (“If Beale Street Could Talk”) were announced as Oscar presenters, my first thought was, “Please don’t be presenting Best Supporting Actress to your co-star Regina King!” We won’t know which category James and Layne have been asked to present until the Oscars air live Sunday, February 24 on ABC, but it’d be totally unfair to the other nominees for King’s co-stars to give her the trophy. Of course, just because this type of scenario is unfair, awkward, clumsy (pick your adjective) doesn’t stop it from happening all too often.
Jack Nicholson infamously co-presented Best Picture with Diane Keaton to the film in which he starred in, “The Departed” (2006). More recently Amy Adams named “Moonlight” (2016) as the winner of Best Adapted Screenplay when her movie “Arrival” was also nominated. That same year Ben Affleck and Matt Damon presented Best Original Screenplay when Affleck’s brother’s film “Manchester by the Sea,” which Damon produced, actually won. With that in mind, let’s take a look at seven presenter nightmare scenarios that could happen on Sunday if Oscar producers aren’t on their game.
It goes without saying, but “Black Panther” stars Angela Bassett, Chadwick Boseman, Danai Gurira and Michael B. Jordan should not present any of that film’s seven categories: Best Picture, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Score, Best Song, Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing. It would also be a bit strange if Boseman and Gurira were to reveal Best Visual Effects since they pop up in “Avengers: Infinity War” as their “Black Panther” characters, alongside additional Oscar presenter Chris Evans as Captain America.
In addition to Best Supporting Actress, it’d be another conflict of interest if presenters James, Layne and/or Brian Tyree Henry from “Beale Street” handed out trophies for that film’s other two categories: Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Score. And hey, since Henry voices a character in “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” the Oscars should also refrain from letting him announce Best Animated Feature.
Best Actress nominee Melissa McCarthy (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?”) really just needs to present anything other than Best Supporting Actor (Richard E. Grant) and Best Adapted Screenplay, the other two categories in which her film was recognized.
It’ll be awkward if “Vice” actor Tyler Perry presents any of the eight categories for which it’s nominated: Best Picture, Best Director (Adam McKay), Best Actor (Christian Bale), Best Supporting Actress (Amy Adams), Best Supporting Actor (Sam Rockwell), Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing and Best Makeup & Hairstyling.
Last year’s Best Actress winner Frances McDormand (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”) is reportedly going to present her same category of Best Actress. But in the event that’s not the case, our fingers are crossed that she doesn’t announce Best Animated Feature since she voices a character in “Isle of Dogs.”
Frozone himself, Samuel L. Jackson, is presenting this year but the only category in which he has a horse in the race is Best Animated Feature thanks to “Incredibles 2.” Since Sarah Paulson and James McAvoy are also presenters, we’re assuming viewers might see a mini “Glass” reunion on-stage.
Emilia Clarke plays Qi’ra in “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” so the only one of the 24 categories she should stay away from is Best Visual Effects. Here’s a fun idea: why not pair up Clarke with her former “Game of Thrones” co-star Jason Momoa, who’s also listed as an Oscar presenter?
PREDICT the Oscar winners now; change them until February 24
Be sure to check out how our experts rank this year’s Oscar contenders. Then take a look at the most up-to-date combined odds before you make your own 2019 Oscar predictions. Don’t be afraid to jump in now since you can keep changing your predictions until just before winners are announced on February 24.
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