American Academy to honour Bond at Oscars

A week before the Oscar nominations are revealed, it can already be said with certainty that James Bond will be honoured by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the most glittering ceremony of the film calendar next month. 

The producers of the 85th Academy Awards have announced that the event, on February 24th, will feature a tribute to the longest-running movie franchise, which has just celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in the UK — a landmark it will pass in the US in May.

In a statement, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron said “We are very happy to include a special sequence on our show saluting the Bond films on their 50th birthday. Starting with ‘Dr. No’ back in 1962, the 007 movies have become the longest-running motion picture franchise in history and a beloved global phenomenon.”

Whether or not the well-received latest film in the franchise, Skyfall, is up for any Oscars in its own right will be seen next week; the nominations will be announced on January 10th.