New Oscars presenters could mean change for the future of the awards show

Oscars producers announced several more actors as presenters for the Sunday  awards show, and this could mean a different awards show in the future.

The countdown begins, and only five days remain before we find out who will be among the next class of Oscar winners. Producers for the Academy Awards announced another string of presenters, making 37 known presenters altogether.

Some of the stars include beloved Oscars winners like Helen Mirren, Jane Fonda, Jodie Foster and Christopher Walken. Other presenters include Emily Blunt, Ansel Elgort, Sandra Bullock, Ashley Judd, Matthew McConaughey and Nicole Kidman.

But the Academy also seems to be addressing the #OscarsSoWhite controversy through announcing a diverse range of presenters. Black Panther favorite and Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o was just announced as a presenter, as well as Rita Moreno, the first Latina actress to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

Mexican actors Eugenio Derbez (How to be a Latin Lover) and Eiza González (Baby Driver) are also listed as a presenters. And even though he experienced a bit of his own controversy, comedian Dave Chappelle is listed as part of the new round of presenters.

Although the Academy has taken perhaps a step back this Oscars season when it comes to diversity in its nominees, these diverse range of presenters are nonetheless evidence of some progress.

As these actors of various backgrounds get the opportunity to present, it increases the visibility of women and minority groups in the entertainment industry. This could mean more roles for these groups in the future and more diverse Academy Award winners down the line. So while two of the four major acting categories have all-white nominees, the Academy’s trends in presenters show that some kind of effort is being made to increase diversity on its stage.

Another major clue found in these presenters could be a shift in acknowledging the superhero genre of films as worthy Oscar contenders. In the last few years, Marvel and DC films have dominated the movie charts, but rarely have they been nominated for Academy Awards outside of effects and visual categories.

Could previously announced presenters like Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther) and Tom Holland (Avengers: Infinity War) be a hint that their movies can see more recognition in the future? Even presenters such as Star Wars actors Mark Hamill and Kelly Marie Tran could mean sci-fi/fantasy films and actors could get Oscars accolades. These are the types of blockbuster films that do well at the box office, but ultimately seem to get ignored by the Oscars — a huge disconnect between the Oscars and what it perceives as a great film.

We’d love to see a movie like Black Panther be up for something as coveted as Best Picture, but the Academy’s love for period pieces and biopics could easily get in the way of that.

Next: 5 genre performances that deserve better from the Oscars and in awards season

The Academy Awards will be airing this Sunday, March 4 at 8 p.m. EST on ABC, so start making your final predictions!