Riz Ahmed and Viola Davis added to Oscars Presenters List

We’re just a few short days away from the 93rd Oscars ceremony, and today the show’s producers Jesse Collins, Stacey Sher, and Steven Soderbergh, have announced an exciting new pair of presenters to the ceremony – Riz Ahmed and Viola Davis. 

In a joint statement from the producing trio, they said, “We’re thrilled Viola and Riz have joined our cast. Even though they are nominees, we really felt they needed to be a part of our Oscar ensemble.” 

Referring to the group of presenters as a “cast” is just part of the producers’ attempts to frame the ceremony as its own event film, a strategy that will be interesting to see come to fruition on Sunday night. Taking place in our current time, this is guaranteed to be an Oscars ceremony unlike any we’ve seen before. 

As noted by the producers, Ahmed and Davis are both nominees this year – Ahmed in the Best Leading Actor category for his performance in Sound of Metal, and Davis in Best Leading Actress for her work in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. It’s Ahmed’s first nomination. Davis is on her fourth nomination now, having won previously in Best Supporting Actress for the 2016 film Fences. 

The duo are joining previously announced presenters (or “cast members”) including Angela Bassett, Halle Berry, Bong Joon-ho, Don Cheadle, Bryan Cranston, Harrison Ford, Regina King, Marlee Matlin, Rita Moreno, Reese Witherspoon, Zendaya, and (as is customary) last year’s four acting winners – Laura Dern, Joaquin Phoenix, Brad Pitt, and Renée Zellweger. 

Stay tuned here for any more late breaking updates for this year’s Oscars ceremony, as we give you all the information you need to know to be ready for Sunday night’s ceremony. 

The 93rd Oscars will air live on ABC at 8:00pm EDT/5:00pm PDT on April 25, 2021.