10 Burning Questions We Have Ahead of the 2018 Oscars

What we can expect in terms of fashion, presenters and host Jimmy Kimmel

By Mike Vulpo Feb 19, 2018 11:00 AMTags

Where has the time gone?!

That's the question pop culture fans may be asking themselves as award season comes to an end in a matter of weeks with the 2018 Oscars.

The biggest—and most glamorous—night in Hollywood recognizes the best in movies from the past year. And with Jimmy Kimmel serving as host, excitement is growing for the star-studded award show.

As moviegoers make predictions for who will win big, we realize some people may have a few burning questions about the upcoming show.

From attendees, potential winners and those infamous envelopes, we address a few in our handy guide below.  

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2018 Oscars: Notable Nominees
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Will Casey Affleck Not Attend?

According to Oscars tradition, the previous year's Best Actor winner presents the Best Actress Oscar. But even after his win in Manchester by the Sea, E! News confirmed in January that Casey will not attend the ceremony. A rep for the Academy added to NBC News, "We appreciate the decision to keep the focus on the show and on the great work of this." Presenters are typically announced in the weeks (and even days) before the show airs.

Where Will James Franco Be?

When the nominations were announced, James' performance in The Disaster Artist was not recognized by The Academy. The snub apparently left the actor with mixed emotions. "James is disappointed in not getting an Oscar nomination but also very understanding and somewhat relieved," a source recently shared with E! News.  "He doesn't want it to look like the snub is correlated with the allegations against him." James has denied all sexual misconduct allegations. As for whether he will attend the biggest night in Hollywood, time will only tell.

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Oscars 2018: Stars React to Their Nominations
Jeff Lipsky/ABC

What Can We Expect From Host Jimmy Kimmel?

Although the Jimmy Kimmel Live! host is keeping most of his agenda top-secret, the comedian dropped a few hints back in January at ABC's winter press tour day. Matt Damon is likely going to be the butt of at least one joke.  And Jimmy admitted that he likes to "have an element that could go either way."

"That could have been an absolute disaster, and some people thought it was, but I loved it," he told reporters. "I do like there to be some danger in the show. And I hope it will be appreciated for what it is."

Who Will Be the Biggest Winner of the Night?

It's no surprise that every critic has an opinion about who deserves to win an Oscar and who will win an Oscar. But perhaps recent award shows could be a good indication about what's to come. At the 2018 Golden Globes and 2018 SAG Awards, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri won the top prize. At the same time, you can't rule out Lady Bird. Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water, however, leads the night with 13 nominations.

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2018 Oscars: Meet the Presenters
Steve Granitz/Getty Images

Could History Be Made at the 2018 Oscars?

The short answer is absolutely yes! Mary J. Blige became the first Hollywood star nominated for an acting performance and Original Song for her work in Mudbound. In addition, Get Out writer and director Jordan Peele became the first African American nominated for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Director all in the same year.

Who Got Snubbed at the 2018 Oscars?

While we understand that not everybody can get nominated, some famous faces delivered performances that arguably deserve some more recognition. Despite being one of the highest-grossing films of the year, Patty Jenkin's superhero film Wonder Woman was entirely left out of nominations. Armie Hammer was left out for his role in Call Me By Your Name. And what about Michelle Williams? The accomplished star was not nominated for her performance in All the Money in the World.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Will the #MeToo Movement Be Addressed on Oscars Night?

As of press time, no specific plans have been revealed as to how Hollywood stars will show their support for the Time's Up movement. At the same time, Jimmy previously predicted that it may come up during the show on multiple occasions. "It's like getting into a hot tub; You can't really know what the temperature is until you get there. Suffice it to say we'll probably deal with it, unless there's a nuclear weapon heading to Sacramento that night," Jimmy joked to reporters during a recent TCA event. "You have to remember why you're there, to entertain people on the biggest night of their lives. If it gets too heavy, you're taking away from that." 

Will the Oscars Avoid Another Envelope Mishap?

Anyone remember last year's La La Land and Moonlight Best Picture mix-up? Trust us, The Academy hasn't forgotten. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) came up with new protocols for future shows including 2018's telecast. The two employees responsible for mishandling the envelope have not been invited back to the Oscars. In addition, PwC has banned the use of phones and social media backstage during the show in hopes that their employees will not be distracted when handling envelopes.

Entertainment Pictures via ZUMA Press, Jeff Spicer/Getty Images

What Are the Most Searched Best Picture Films Ever?

Some movies come and go and others stay with pop culture fans forever. According to Google Trends, no Best Picture movie has stood the test of time more than Leonardo Dicaprio's Titanic. Gladiator and The Godfather also make out the Top 3. As for what is the most-searched movie of this year's Best Picture nominees, the winner thus far is Get Out

Which Nominees Are Americans Searching for Before the Big Show?

As excitement grows for the biggest award show of the year, moviegoers want to learn more about some of the nominees. According to Google Trends, Timothée Chalamet and Denzel Washington tie for most searched Best Actor nominee while Margot Robbie leads the way for Best Actress contenders. 

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