The Academy is still taking its lumps for not nominating Greta Gerwig for directing “Barbie.” Even Jimmy Kimmel, the guy hired to host the Oscars for the fourth time, is letting them have it.
In a lengthy new teaser that is already going viral, the “Jimmy Kimmel Live” host follows the yellow brick road in Barbieland to make it to the March 10 Academy Awards. “Barbie” cast members Kate McKinnon, Helen Mirren, and the film‘s Academy-Award nominees America Ferrera and Ryan Gosling help him reach his destination: Oscarsland, AKA Los Angeles.
We prefer the pink place.
Along the way, McKinnon parodies co-star Ferrera’s iconic “Barbie” speech, penned by co-writers Noah Baumbach and Gerwig, while Gosling says he is eager to cheer on Gerwig in the Best Director category. Gosling, at least half in character, is in for a rude awakening.
“Good thing Greta has got [Best] Director in the bag!” Gosling says in the promo. Upon being told that Gerwig in fact was not nominated, he screams.
Gosling previously issued a statement expressing how “disappointed” he was that both Gerwig and lead actress Margot Robbie were not recognized in their respective categories. Gerwig is nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, and Robbie will get a trophy as an executive producer if “Barbie” wins Best Picture.
How big a deal was “Barbie”? Well, it has made nearly $1.5 billion at the worldwide box office, and is the highest-grossing film ever directed by a woman. It is also Warner Bros.’ most profitable movie to date. Beyond the financials, here’s how big it is: “Barbie” just got the Academy to make fun of itself. (By way of Kimmel, of course.)
The 2024 Academy Awards will take place March 10 at 4 p.m. PT / 7 p.m. ET on ABC. You can bet Kimmel will be roasting the Academy then too. Watch the new teaser below.
The 2024 Academy Award nominees are among the most diverse ever, with films like “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Anatomy of a Fall,” “Poor Things,” “Oppenheimer,” and “The Zone of Interest” among the contenders with the most nods. “Barbie” has eight nominations.
