Melissa McCarthy, Ellie Kemper, Rose Byrne, Wendi Mclendon-Covey, Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig in ‘Bridesmaids’
Credit: Universal Pictures/Entertainment Pictures/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock
NEED TO KNOW
PEOPLE was in the building as preparations for the 2026 Oscars took place on Saturday, March 14
During rehearsals for the 98th Academy Awards, Bridesmaids stars reunited, Javier Bardem cracked jokes and more
The Oscars will air live on ABC and Hulu on Sunday, March 15
Hollywood’s biggest night is almost here — and PEOPLE had an inside look as preparations are underway.
The day before the Oscars, which will air on Sunday, March 15, PEOPLE was in attendance during rehearsals, with a front-row seat as producers readied the storied telecast.
Late on Saturday afternoon, Javier Bardem walked off the glittering stage at the Dolby Theatre, having completed a flawless rehearsal for his moment as a presenter at the 98th Academy Awards.
“Am I fired?” grinned the F1 star, 57, sharing a warm hello with producers while dressed casually in a black tee and matching pants. “I’m going to learn the lines!” he quipped with a laugh.
The actor was one of many A-listers utilizing the weekend to run through their lines, including Adrien Brody, Kieran Culkin, Mikey Madison, Will Arnett, Bill Pullman, Lewis Pullman and Wagner Moura.
Adrien Brody at Oscars rehearsals on March 14
Credit: AMPAS
But perhaps no one was having more fun than the reunited Bridesmaids cast. Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Rose Byrne, Ellie Kemper and Maya Rudolph assembled on March 14 for their much-anticipated Oscars reunion, each wearing a credential around their neck.
Dressed casually — Byrne, 46, wore a black jumpsuit, and Wiig, 52, appeared in jeans and a black tank — each wore what appeared to be their show-day sky-high heels.
The same magic that drove Bridesmaids to box office glory was evident from the get-go. As the room full of producers, technicians, crew and camera operators applauded, McCarthy, 55, and Byrne walked onstage with their arms jokingly outstretched, blowing kisses and hamming it up.
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Practicing a particularly funny bit, Wiig stopped at one point to refine the timing of the camera cutting between her costars and the audience.
After announcing the faux winner (and watching a stand-in make a thank-you speech), McCarthy danced as the group exited stage left.
Kieran Culkin at Oscar rehearsals on March 14
Credit: AMPAS
“It’s a stacked show,” Bill Kramer, CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, said inside the theater on March 14. He added that a Sinners performance during the Oscars is “going to blow your mind.”
It was also confirmed that Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor will appear together during the broadcast for a Moulin Rouge! reunion ahead of the film’s upcoming 25th anniversary.
Mikey Madison at Oscar rehearsals on March 14
Credit: AMPAS
Producers of the 98th Academy Awards, to be hosted again by comedian Conan O’Brien, previously teased “huge reunions” destined for the broadcast. One includes a Marvel reunion, which executive producer Katy Mullan said is “for the superhero fans.”
“So we’re going to have superstars and superheroes,” she added during a March 11 press conference.
“And there is also going to be an extraterrestrial on the stage, so you can figure that one out,” Mullan also teased.
Sources previously told PEOPLE that a Devil Wears Prada moment is in motion for the show, where Anne Hathaway has previously been confirmed as a presenter.
The moment is said to draw from the upcoming sequel (in theaters May 1), which reunites Hathaway, 43, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci.
An expanded In Memoriam segment is also expected following a year that saw the loss of many stars, including Diane Keaton, Robert Redford and Rob Reiner.
O’Brien, 62, told Extra that the segment honoring his late friend Reiner was “hard to sum up,” but added, “It’s going to be a very powerful part of the show.”
A total of 10 films were nominated this year for Best Picture: Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners and Train Dreams.
Sinners cemented its place in history with a whopping 16 nominations, making it the most nominated movie of all time.
Stars nominated this year include Michael B. Jordan, Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke and Wagner Moura in the Best Actor category, and Jessie Buckley, Emma Stone, Kate Hudson, Renate Reinsve and Byrne for Best Actress.
See PEOPLE’s coverage of the 98th Academy Awards, airing live on ABC and Hulu on Sunday, March 15.
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