Oscars Set Creative Team and Executive Producers for 97th Academy Awards

The Academy has named Raj Kapoor to return as executive producer and showrunner for the 97th Oscars, CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang announced Monday Katy Mullan will be back as executive producer, and Hamish Hamilton returns as director.

It’s Kapoor and Mullan’s second time as executive producers and Hamilton’s fifth time directing the Oscars, which air March 2 on ABC from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Also returning are production designers Misty Buckley and Alana Billingsley, who won an Emmy for last year’s show, and red carpet show executive producer David Chamberlin.

Joining the team for the first time is music director Michael Bearden. Bearden was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Music Direction for the Super Bowl LI Halftime Show featuring Lady Gaga and “One Last Time: An Evening with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga” and has served as a music director for the Primetime Emmys and Grammy Awards.

“We are delighted to announce the return of our incredibly dynamic and creative Oscars team, Raj, Katy, Hamish, Misty, Alana and Dave. And we are thrilled to announce the addition of the brilliant Michael Bearden,” said Kramer and Yang in a statement. “Their love for cinema, their collective creative vision and their unparalleled expertise in live television make them the perfect team to create an exceptional show for our global audience on the film industry’s biggest night.”

“We are thrilled to lead the brilliant Oscars production team again and work alongside the Academy and Disney/ABC to help create an unforgettable night of television for movie lovers worldwide,” said Kapoor and Mullan. “We hope to continue to inspire and connect new generations to share our love for the art of filmmaking and celebrate all the incredible artists who are Oscar nominated this year.”

“Last year’s show was a tremendous success in no small part to the creative vision of Raj, Katy, Hamish and their teams,” said Rob Mills, executive vice president, Unscripted and Alternative Entertainment, Walt Disney Television. “We are excited to have them back and can’t wait for what’s in store for the 97th telecast.”