ABC has scheduled “The Oprah Winfrey Oscar Special” to air Wednesday, March 3, from 10-11 p.m.
In a statement, the network says, "Oprah once again brings together Hollywood’s biggest stars to interview each other in casual, intimate settings, capturing moments seldom seen."
Winfrey’s first Oscar special aired in 2007. It featured Julia Roberts interviewing George Clooney, Nicole Kidman quizzing fellow Aussie Russell Crowe and Jamie Foxx talking to Sidney Poitier.
UPDATED: This year’s interviews will include 2002 Oscar winner Halle Berry ("Monster’s Ball") interviewing last year’s Supporting Actress winner, Penelope Cruz. The Spanish actress is nominated in the same category this year for "Nine."
Also, "Avatar’s" Oscar-nominated director James Cameron will chat with three of the actors from his movie: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana and Sigourney Weaver.
Screenplay Oscar winner Ben Affleck ("Good Will Hunting") will talk with Best Actor nominee Jeremy Renner, star of "The Hurt Locker."
And "Fatal Attraction” stars Glenn Close and Michael Douglas will reunite for an on-screen discussion. Close is a five-time Oscar nominee, including one for "Fatal Attraction," while Douglas won Oscars as Best Actor in "Wall Street" and as producer of Best Picture "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest."
“The new Oscar rules put the spotlight on more great movies than ever before, and ABC will showcase them all in an Oscar telecast that delivers great entertainment for the fans watching at home. Having Oprah’s Oscar special back this year adds to the excitement around Hollywood’s biggest event,” Stephen McPherson, ABC Entertainment Group president, said in a statement.
ABC will air the 82nd annual Academy Awards live on Sunday, March 7, at 5:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. ET.
“The Oprah Winfrey Oscar Special” is produced by Harpo Productions. Winfrey and Sheri Salata are executive producers.
