Queen is officially opening the Oscars. Plus, more details from the show’s producers

This is real life (not just a fantasy): Queen is opening Sunday’s Academy Awards telecast.

Instead of the traditional 20-minute set of jokes from a host (because, well, the Oscars don’t have one this year), expect a rock ‘n’ roll start to the awards show (ABC, 8 ET/5 PT).

“If you’re ever heard Queen’s music, I think this will be something that will invite you in in a really great way,” says producer Glenn Weiss. “The music is so well-known that this to us became a really great way to open the show and not be traditional like a normal awards show and depend on things like a monologue.”

So what else can we expect? There will be a lot of music, say the producers (though no Kendrick Lamar). And while the host (formerly Kevin Hart, until he dropped out in December) usually leans heavily into current events in the opening monologue, a less politically barbed show could be in store, too.

“Politics have been a part of the show for a long time. We can’t actually control what winners say, but what we can do is control the general overall narrative of what we want to say,” says producer Donna Gigliotti. “What we want to say is this has been an amazing, inclusive year in film.”

It’s unavoidable that this year’s Oscars lead-up has been fraught with controversy, from host headaches to the Academy’s decision to excise four less starry awards from the live show – only to add them back after mass outcry.

Today the producers say adding those awards back wasn’t a huge disruption.

“Things happen and change all the time between nominations and (the) show,” says Weiss. “Part of putting together a live television show is adapting and making changes. We have been spending the last month since nominations changing things that you may have heard about and so many things you haven’t heard about.”

Source: usatoday.com