Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lawrence, Jessica Chastain Presenting at the Oscars

The three are front-runners for major awards

Ben Affleck, Jessica Chastain and Jennifer Lawrence will add their star power to this year's Oscar telecast, the show's producers said Thursday.

Both Chastain and Lawrence are considered leading contenders for the Best Actress statue for their performances in "Zero Dark Thirty" and "Silver Linings Playbook" respectively.

Affleck was snubbed by Oscar voters for directing "Argo," but industry sympathy has grown for his omission in the weeks that followed the nominations.

The Middle East political thriller is considered to be the front-runner for the Best Picture prize, having picked up top honors at the Golden Globes, the Producers Guild Awards and many other major awards shows.

Affleck won an Oscar in 1997 for co-writing “Good Will Hunting" with Matt Damon.

Chastain received her first nomination last year for her supporting role as a spirited housewife in “The Help," and Lawrence received her first nomination in 2010 for her leading role as a downtrodden teenager searching for her father in “Winter’s Bone.”

Other previously announced Oscar presenters include Halle Berry, Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Mark Wahlberg, and “Marvel’s The Avengers” cast members Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner and Mark Ruffalo. The show will also feature musical performances by the likes of Barbra Streisand and Adele.

The Oscars will be telecast on Feb. 24 and hosted by "Ted" star Seth MacFarlane.

Comments