Staying loyal to the theme of connection, Mullan and Kapoor also plan to pair presenters who have ties to the nominees. “The magic of movies comes from collaboration. We want to highlight that,” Mullan said. Mentioning how the show is part of a continuum, Kapoor added, “We’re honoring the past, reflecting the present, and inspiring the future of filmmaking.”

With efforts to honor the past, an old way of introducing the nominees will return: Playing a variety of film clips while nominees are introduced, which hasn’t happened during the ceremony in the last few years. As for inspiring the future of the industry, the Oscars will see new and emerging generations of talent, including younger trailblazers like Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), Ariana Grande (Wicked), and Mikey Madison (Anora). “One thing we’ve been blessed with this year is a wide range of nominees,” Kapoor said. “There are 13 first-time acting nominees alone. That energy, that fresh perspective, is thrilling.”

Conan O’Brien will be hosting this year’s show, marking his first time stepping in as a host for the Oscars. “It’s kind of unbelievable that Conan has never hosted before,” Kapoor said. “He brings a wealth of imagination, creativity, and spontaneity. His team has invested so much time and research — it’s not just another gig for them.”

As the Oscars proceed following the recent damaging events of the LA wildfires, the Academy plans to use the televised ceremony to honor the first responders and firefighters who risked their lives to help the community. “The Academy has partnered with charities, and there will be a call to action for people to participate in,” Kapoor said.

The 97th Oscars will take place on March 2 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, and viewers can tune in on ABC at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET or stream it live on Hulu.