Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will return to produce the Oscars for a third consecutive year, Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs said Monday.
The 87th Oscars will air live on the ABC Television Network on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. The last Oscar producer to run three consecutive telecasts was Gilbert Cates, who produced the 1997-99 shows.
Also read: Oscars Propel ABC to Most-Watched Week in 4 Years
Zadan and Meron’s last Oscars production, on March 2, boasted the return of host Ellen DeGeneres, musical performances by artists including Pharrell Williams and U2, a tribute to “The Wizard of Oz” by Pink, and a star-studded, record-breaking selfie.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Craig and Neil back to produce the Oscars again in 2015,” said Boone Isaacs. “Their showmanship has elevated the show to new heights and we are excited to keep the momentum going with this creative partnership.”
Also read: ‘Smash’ Duo Craig Zadan and Neil Meron Signs First-Look Deal With Uni TV, NBCU International
“This year’s show reached viewers of all ages and set social media records, proving that Craig and Neil are masters at tapping into the zeitgeist and capturing the hearts of movie fans around the world,” added Academy CEO Dawn Hudson.
“We are delighted to work with Cheryl, Dawn and the Academy to produce the Oscars for a third time,” said Zadan and Meron. “We’re proud of the show’s success over the last two years and are eager to embark on another entertaining show to honor this year’s motion pictures.”
The producers’ film, television and theater productions have earned a total of six Oscars, 11 Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, a Grammy Award, five Golden Globes, two Peabody Awards, five GLAAD Awards and two NAACP Image Awards. They executive produced 2002 Best Picture winner “Chicago,” which won Oscars in six of the 13 categories in which it was nominated. Their credits also include “Footloose” (2011), “Hairspray” (2007) and “The Bucket List” (2007). Zadan also produced the original “Footloose” (1984).
Zadan and Meron also executive produced last year’s hit “The Sound of Music Live!” for NBC, as well as the TV series “Smash” and “Drop Dead Diva.” They also produced such Emmy-nominated television movies as “Steel Magnolias,” “A Raisin in the Sun,” as well as “Annie,” “Serving in Silence,” “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” and “Gypsy.”
Their Broadway credits include the Tony-winning “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” starring Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette, and the Tony-winning “Promises, Promises” starring Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth.