By Tori B. Powell, Mike Hayes, Matt Meyer and Seán Federico O'Murchú, CNN
From CNN's Marianne Garvey
Pedro Pascal appeared on the pre-Oscars red carpet coverage on ABC, where host Ashley Graham asked the "Last of Us" star if he'd seen all the TikToks about him.
After first pausing and saying "no" he didn't use the social media platform, he then quietly added: "I have a secret one."
Graham either didn't pick up on it or ignored it, but now Pascal fans know he's been checking on all their posts about the actor.
From CNN's Alli Rosenbloom
Fresh off of her record-breaking 2023 Super Bowl halftime performance, Rihanna is set to perform “Lift Me Up” from Marvel’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” during the Oscars telecast, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced last month.
“Lift Me Up” was co-written by Rihanna, Tems, Ludwig Göransson and the film’s director Ryan Coogler. The ballad is nominated for best original song at this year’s Oscars, marking Rihanna’s first-ever Academy Award nomination.
It’s already been a huge year for Rihanna. Earlier this month, the nine-time Grammy-winner announced she’s expecting another child with rapper A$AP Rocky following the Super Bowl, where she performed live for the first time in seven years.
From CNN's Alli Rosenbloom
The scene on the red carpet tonight is filled with arriving celebrities, applause and excitement ahead of the 95th Academy Awards.
It included:
Actor Harry Shum appeared to be dancing as fans chanted for him.
Jamie Lee Curtis waving to crowds.
Actress Ariana Debose taking selfies with fans.
Model Winnie Harlowe's team fixing her dress on the carpet as she posed for pictures.
Singer-songwriter Lenny Kravitz arriving to roaring applause.
Florence Pugh going up to fans taking selfies with their cameras. Pugh saying "Hi" to Ashley Graham as they passed each other.
Angela Bassett wowed on the red carpet with a purple ensemble.
Bassett is nominated for best supporting actress for her role as Queen Ramonda in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”
In an interview with E!'s Laverne Cox, Bassett said she was wearing Moschino by Jeremy Scott. The color was purposeful for the woman who played the Queen of Wakanda.
"It's royal purple," Bassett said. "The color of royalty, bringing it to the carpet."
She also reflected on how this awards season feels compared to 30 years ago, when she was nominated for her role as Tina Turner in "What's Love Got to Do With It?"
"Love and support compounded," she said. "Compounded, compounded, compounded. I've felt it with me this entire journey. It's been wonderful."
From CNN's Lisa Respers France
Angela Bassett’s powerful performance as Queen Ramonda in the “Black Panther” sequel “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” earned her a best supporting actress nomination for the 95th Academy Awards.
While it was not her first nomination (Bassett received a best actress nomination for her portrayal of Tina Turner in 1993’s biopic “What’s Love Got to Do With It?”), the news did mark a few firsts: The nod made her the first person of color, the first woman and the first Marvel Studios actor to be nominated for a performance in a comic book adaptation.
“This morning is a little extra special in the Bassett Vance household with news of my Oscar nomination,” Bassett said in a statement to CNN. “What has drawn me to each of the women I’ve portrayed throughout my career is their strength, compassion, resilience, and power. Wakanda Forever’s Queen Ramonda is a character that touched my spirit because she is a mother and a leader who must care for her grieving nation as much as she cares for her family in mourning. Ramonda is a love letter that reflects and acknowledges what we women do everyday."
Earlier this month, Bassett took home a Golden Globe for the same role.
From CNN's Lisa Respers France
Jimmy Kimmel will return to host the Academy Awards for a third time, according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In a recent interview ahead of the big night, Kimmel said he’s ready for anything.
“Being invited to host the Oscars for a third time is either a great honor or a trap,” Kimmel said jokingly in a statement. “Either way, I am grateful to the Academy for asking me so quickly after everyone good said no.”
As for what we can expect from Kimmel this year?
He said it’s simple – he’ll tell jokes.
“I don’t have a lot of talents, so there’s not a huge number of areas for me to draw from outside of telling jokes,” he said. “I mean, I am pretty good at drawing cartoons, so I guess I could sit down and do caricatures of the stars?”
“The best advice I got about hosting the Oscars was from Billy Crystal, who told me, ‘Play to the room,’" Kimmel added. "You always have to be conscious of the audience at home and make sure they understand what’s going on, but you also want to get laughs in the room — and if you don’t get that, it’s not going to play well for people watching on TV.”
Kimmel previously helmed the ceremony in 2017 and 2018. His last foray into hosting the awards show was memorable for the infamous “La La Land” and “Moonlight” Best Picture mix-up.
From CNN's Lisa Respers France
Rihanna isn't the only superstar singer who will be performing at the Oscars.
According to ABC, Lady Gaga will be singing her "Top Gun: Maverick" theme song "Hold My Hand."
Variety was the first to report that despite earlier reports that Gaga would be skipping the awards show because of being busy with her starring role in “Joker: Folie à Deux," the Oscar-winning singer (for best original song in 2019 for her hit "Shallow" with Bradley Cooper" from "A Star Is Born") will be taking to the stage on Hollywood's biggest night.
The other best original song nominees, Rihanna (“Lift Me Up” from "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever"), Sofia Carson and Diane Warren (“Applause” from "Tell It Like a Woman"), Stephanie Hsu, David Byrne and Son Lux (“This Is a Life” from "Everything Everywhere All at Once") and Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava (“Naatu Naatu” from "RRR") are also expected to perform, according to Variety.
From CNN's Lisa Respers France
In a year that saw many critically acclaimed films helmed by female directors, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has take heat for failing to nominate any women in the directing category.
“Women Talking” was nominated in the best picture category, but its director Sarah Polley was shut out.
Other notable names ignored by the Academy: Charlotte Wells for her work on “Aftersun,” Maria Schrader for “She Said,” Gina Prince-Bythewood for “The Woman King” and Domee Shi, director of the animated Pixar film “Turning Red.”
From CNN Digital's Visuals Team
It’s one of the most famous trophies in the world.
The Oscar statuette has been honoring the best in film since 1929. But its production — and materials — have changed over the years.
Photographer Christopher Payne went behind the scenes to see how each statuette is made.
“For me what was interesting was seeing this distinctive shape, that we all know and love and recognize, in its various forms leading up to the finished product,” Payne said.
Read more here.
