For your infotainment the Oscar presenters named thus far and our theories as to why they were invited. We don't need to mention diversity because that would probably read snarky when we don't mean it that way at all; we're thrilled Hollywood is making an effort! So we'll name the other possible reasons for the names. Presumably these choices are agonized over and debated at length behind the scenes since they're always so carefully representative of a wide range of celebrities appealing to all kinds of mainstream moviegoers from kids to grandparents to sophisticated cultural mavens to soccer moms. Etcetera.
Just about the only audience they don't cater to on the regular, probably because they'll watch anyway, are cinephiles and Old Hollywood loving film buffs. The Oscar producers often do a very crappy job of that (especially given how many elderly showbiz legends are still alive! I mean come on give us some Poitier, Lansbury, Rowlands, Connery, Redford, Belafonte, or Andrews or something). It's always a welcome shock when they actually do think about their rich industry history and throw us a Kim Novak for example.
The celebrities thus far (in alpha order)...
- Mahershala Ali (Last year's Supporting Actor winner will presumably be naming Best Supporting Actress as is the tradition)
- Chadwick Boseman (T'Challa himself. Oscar loves to have stars of hot current blockbusters on the show)
- Viola Davis (Last year's Supporting Actress winner presumably naming Best Supporting Actor as is the tradition)
- Laura Dern (Previous nominee, acting dynasties represent, an AMPAS governor, knows everyone, also is awesome)...
- Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman herself. Yes, they want every superhero they can get on stage)...
- Jennifer Garner (Oscar has a long history of obsessing over household name actors who maybe aren't prestige-movie types and maybe even don't work that much but who the gossip blogs -- we used to call them tabloids -- and suburban housewives know and love)
- Greta Gerwig (We're sorry you're not going to win anything even though you deserve to!)
- Tiffany Hadish (Oops. Sorry about your snub!)
- Mark Hamill (Star Wars fever)
- Armie Hammer (Sorry you weren't nominated... and in such a blah category, too!)
- Tom Holland (Spider-Man! And obviously a future nominee once he hits his 30s and starts getting leads in adult oriented dramas)
- Oscar Isaac (I mean who WOULDN'T invite him to do just about anything?)
- Lin-Manuel Miranda (Broadway ambassador, previous nominee, all around wonderful inspiring man, and possible nominee next year for Mary Poppins Returns)
- Kumail Nanjiani (Thanks for being so fun on the campaign trail - we dont know how The Big Sick missed Best Picture - promise we voted for it.)
- Margot Robbie (Current nominee + Current It Girl of Hollywood factor)
- Gina Rodriguez (Oscar has a thing for TV stars with mainstream appeal even if they have a low profile in cinema. Perhaps Annihilation can boost her big screen potential?)
- Eva Marie Saint (The single bone thrown to classic movie buffs this year?)
- Emma Stone (Last year's Best Actress winner presumably to present Best Actor)
- Wes Studi (Surprised at this one. Delighted even but I have no idea why. Remember how good he was in The Last of the Mohicans 25 years ago? He recently popped up in both Penny Dreadful and Hostiles and he's never stopped working. It's always nice when they invite a non-household name character actor to the stage but it's also pretty rare.)
- Kelly Marie Tran (As much Star Wars as we can get to boost the ratings -- see also Mark Hamill and Oscar Isaac and Laura Dern -- even though there's no reason to believe that this will actually boost the ratings. Also is adorable.)
- Daniela Vega (A little treat for foreign film aficianados and LGBT audiences simultaneously? A hint that Chile might win Best Foreign Film? But serious voice: this is kind of a remarkable invite, in point of fact. She'll be the first openly trans presenter)
- Zendaya (Another 'It Girl' -- particularly for that youth audience Oscar is always desperately afraid they can't reach. Remember their Milus Cyrus presenting obsession?)
That's only 22 names for 24 categories. Plus, presenters are often paired. Expect at least another dozen names before the ceremony. We hope some of them are movie stars, non-superhero division, by which we mean Nicole Kidman. And our dream of dreams: can Michelle Pfeiffer please get a pf**king invite after she finally deigned to return to the cameras? We know everyone hated mother! but Murder on the Orient Express was a hit and honestly it's the least Hollywood could do.