“Comedy powerhouses” Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes will host this year’s Oscars ceremony, organisers have announced – making history as the first all-female line up to lead the event.
After three years of hostless ceremonies, the three women mark a return to the traditional format for the first time since talk show host Jimmy Kimmel took the Academy Awards reins in 2018.
Emmy-award winning comic, writer and producer Schumer appeared on Good Morning America on Tuesday to announce the news, saying: “I’m not sure who thought this was a good idea but I am hosting the Oscars, along with my good friend Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall. I better go watch some movies.”
In a joint statement, Hall, Schumer and Sykes added: “We want people to get ready to have a good time. It’s been a while.”
Actor and producer Hall recently appeared in the series Nine Perfect Strangers and is also known for films including Girls Trip. Schumer is best known for films including The Humans, I Feel Pretty and Trainwreck, which she also wrote, while Sykes’ credits include the stand-up special Wanda Sykes: Not Normal, The Other Two and Monster-in-Law.
The trio follow in the footsteps of previous hosts including Chris Rock, Ellen DeGeneres, Billy Crystal, Steve Martin and Whoopi Goldberg.
This year’s event will be the first ceremony to have more than one host since Anne Hathaway and James Franco presented in 2011, and the first to have three since 1987, when Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn and Paul Hogan shared the stage.
How to watch this year’s Oscars
This year’s Oscars ceremony takes place on Sunday 27 March and promises to be a more memorable affair than in 2021, which was delayed from February to April and mostly virtual due to the pandemic.
The front-runners for this year’s awards include toxic masculinity Western Power Of The Dog; sci-fi epic Dune; climate satire Don’t Look Up; Troubles portrait Belfast and Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story remake, while Andrew Garfield, Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman, Dame Judi Dench and Kenneth Branagh lead the British nominees.
Read more: The full list of 2022 Oscar nominees
Will Packer, the ceremony’s producer, said: “This year’s show is all about uniting movie lovers. It’s apropos that we’ve lined up three of the most dynamic, hilarious women with very different comedic styles.
“I know the fun Regina, Amy and Wanda will be having will translate to our audience as well. Many surprises in store. Expect the unexpected!”
The awards ceremony will air on ABC in the US and on Sky Cinema in the UK.
Craig Erwich, president of Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment, said: “Imagine having one of the funniest women in comedy today hosting the Oscars… Now, multiply that by three.
“Regina, Amy and Wanda are comedy powerhouses who will make history as the first female trio to host the biggest night in entertainment, and we’re thrilled to have them at the helm to deliver an incredible show full of unforgettable moments and laughter.”
You can watch the Oscars live from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood exclusively on Sky Cinema in the UK, from 10pm on 27 March
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