Oscars To Celebrate Movie Heroes Including Batman & Superman

This year's Academy Awards will celebrate movie heroes, producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced today. The show will honor a wide range of heroes, from real-life heroes to superheroes, as well as the film-makers who brought them to the big screen. "We wanted to unify the show with an entertaining and emotional theme," said Zadan and Meron. "People around the world go to the movies to be inspired by the characters they see on the screen. By celebrating the gamut of heroes who have enriched our movie-going experience, we hope to create an evening of fun and joy. And that includes the filmmakers and actors who take risks and stimulate us with provocative subjects and daring characters. They are all heroes in the cinematic landscape." In addition to the awards show telecast, the Academy is planning "The Oscars Celebrates Movie Heroes," an exhibition consisting of photos, posters and video from 70 films. The exhibition will be held from January 17 – March 5 at the Academy's Grand Lobby Gallery and will include superhero films such as Superman and The Dark Knight Rises. Ellen DeGeneres will host the 86th Annual Academy Awards, March 2, 2014 on ABC. The nominations will be announced by Chris Hemsworth and Cheryl Boone Isaacs on January 16.