2016 Oscars Complete List Of Presenters And Performers, Plus Ben Affleck Will Appear On Kimmel’s Live Aftershow

The biggest night in the film industry is fast approaching, which is the 2016 Oscars in case you didn’t know. While it’s unfortunate not every actor is lucky enough to receive an Oscar nomination or award, the show will still be a night to remember.

This year’s show includes a star-studded list of celebrities, including J.J. Abrams, Sacha Baron Cohen, Henry Cavill, and previous winners John Legend and Morgan Freeman, who are slated to present at the show, while the Foo Fighter’s Dave Grohl, among others, will be performing, reports Us Magazine.

“We’re thrilled to be joined by a movie icon, a filmmaking dynamo, a larger-than-life action hero, a master of satire and two world renowned music power-hitters,” Oscar producers David Hill and Reginald Hudlin said in a statement on Thursday, February 18. “This year’s show reflects a commitment to showcase cinematic contributions from a variety of genres and this latest list of presenters reflects just that.”

With Chris Rock as host of the 2016 Oscars, the big night is slated for 47 stars who will be lighting up the stage on Sunday, February 28, according to the official Oscar site. Other presenters and performers include Abraham Attah, Cate Blanchett, Emily Blunt, Louis C.K., Steve Carell, Priyanka Chopra, Common, Russell Crowe, Benicio del Toro, Chris Evans, Tina Fey, Ryan Gosling, Louis Gossett, Jr., Kevin Hart, Quincy Jones, Michael B. Jordan, Lady Gaga, Byung-hun Lee, Jennifer Garner, Whoopi Goldberg, Jared Leto, Rachel McAdams, Olivia Munn, Dev Patel, Daisy Ridley, Margot Robbie, Jason Segel, Andy Serkis, Sarah Silverman, Sam Smith, Charlize Theron, Jacob Tremblay, Sofía Vergara, Kerry Washington, The Weeknd, Pharrell Williams, and Reese Witherspoon.

In addition to that impressive list, last year’s winners in the four acting categories, J.K. Simmons, Eddie Redmayne, Patricia Arquette, and Julianne Moore, will be honoring this year’s winners by handing out the golden statues to their rightful victors.

Also, to break up the repetitiveness of endless “thank you’s” and montages, the Oscars always invites a select few from the music world to join the big party. This year’s Oscars are no different, and will include performances from the Best Original Song category, which praises music written specifically for movies.

Also, as mentioned above, David Grohl, a non-nominee, will also be performing a “special performance,” states Bustle. But what exactly is this “special performance?” Well, nobody knows, since he’s done a good job at keeping his plans a secret. But the mystery performance is a welcome change to a fun, but rather predictable, night.

Another performer at the 2016 Oscars is The Weeknd, who with an Oscar nomination under his belt can now officially be considered mainstream. He’ll be performing his track from the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack, Earned it. But unlike the movie, which was a major flop among reviewers, the modern version of this slow jam actually made it to the Oscars.

And what kind of Oscars would it be without Lady Gaga, the one performer who has had an unbelievable successful year? She stepped away for awhile, but her absence turned out to be a good thing as she redefined herself as a not only a great artist but also got her feet wet in the acting gig as a part of American Horror Story. And if things couldn’t get better for Lady Gaga, who also sang the National Anthem at this year’s Super Bowl, “Till It Happens To You,” which was written for the campus sexual assault documentary, The Hunting Ground, might walk away with an Oscar.

According to Bustle, Lady Gaga will be performing the simple version of the song which was co-written with Diane Warren, with just a piano and string instruments in what some believe will trade her usual spectacle performance for something more awe-inspiring and powerful.

And last but not least, Sam Smith will be singing Writing’s On The Wall, the popular theme song from James Bond’s latest action movie, Spectre. While the song highlights Sam Smith’s vocal capabilities, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if a full string orchestra backs him up on stage.

Of course, the night wouldn’t be the same without an equally good aftershow. Cue Jimmy Kimmel. The 11th annual Jimmy Kimmel!: Live After The Oscars special will immediately follow Sunday night’s Oscars and local news broadcast.

This year, Kimmel has scored superstar Ben Affleck. Affleck is the star of the much-awaited film Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Last year, Kimmel’s post-awards show celebration included guest star John Travolta and appearances by 2015 Oscar host Neil Patrick Harris, Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon, Eddie Redmayne, Lupita Nyong’o, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Gary Oldman, Jeff Bridges, Mila Kunis, and Kristen Bell.

The 2016 Oscars will mark the show’s 88th year, and will be held at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood on Sunday, February 28, and can be watched live on ABC, starting with red carpet coverage at 7 p.m. ET.

Tell us! Who are you looking forward to seeing perform or present on the 2016 Oscars? Let us know in the comments below.

[Photo by Robyn Beck/Getty Images]