The Oscars will talk about Bruno, yes, yes, yes.
The 94th Academy Awards, which will take place on March 27, will feature the first live performance of “We Don’t Talk about Bruno,” the breakout sensation from Disney’s animated musical “Encanto.” Cast members Adassa, Stephanie Beatriz, Mauro Castillo, Carolina Gaitan and Diane Guerrero will perform the tune alongside Becky G and Luis Fonsi.
We don't talk about Bruno…except at this year's #Oscars!
Catch the 94th Academy Awards hosted by @MoreReginaHall, @amyschumer, and @iamwandasykes LIVE Sunday, March 27 on @ABCNetwork! pic.twitter/9DZ23urvSM
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 16, 2022
This year’s telecast will also include tributes to James Bond and “The Godfather,” which is turning 50.
“Encanto,” a nominee for best animated film, opened in theaters last year, but the musical movie — about a Colombian family who lives in a magical house — didn’t explode in the public’s consciousness until it arrived on Disney Plus. “We Don’t Talk about Bruno,” a group number in which the Madrigals lament about their estranged relative, Bruno, isn’t nominated at this year’s Oscars. In fact, the musical-theater bop was not even in the running for best original song because Disney decided to submit the sentimental love song “Dos Oruguitas” for awards consideration instead. But the Academy Award producers couldn’t deny “We Don’t Talk about Bruno’s” chart-topping ubiquity in popular culture and arranged to bring the animated tune to life at this year’s telecast in the hopes that it would inspire fans to tune in.
“Dos Oruguitas” will compete against Beyoncé Knowles-Carter’s “Be Alive” from “King Richard,” Van Morrison’s “Down To Joy” from “Belfast,”Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell’s “No Time To Die” from “No Time to Die,” and Diane Warren’s “Somehow You Do” from “Four Good Days” for best original song.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the music for “Encanto,” is one award away from achieving EGOT status, having previously earned an Emmy, Tony and Grammy. Since it’s impossible to talk about “Encanto” without mentioning “Bruno,” the “Hamilton” creator has defended Disney’s decision to push “Dos Oruguitas” for awards contention.
“I’m still proud of ‘Dos Oruguitas’ as the submission,” Miranda previously told PvNew. “When those are the parameters, you have to pick the thing that best exemplifies the spirit of the movie, and it contains all of it inside this song – as opposed to a journey of a particular character. It’s the foundational story, but I’m not going to say it wasn’t hard [to choose].”
Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes will host this year’s Academy Awards. Jane Campion’s revisionist Western “The Power of the Dog” is going into the night with a leading 12 nominations, followed by Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi adaptation “Dune” with 10 and Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” remake, Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical “Belfast” each with seven.
