Will Packer Set to Produce Oscars for First Time

Will Packer (Credit: Ben Rollins

Will Packer has signed on to produce the 94th Oscars, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Tuesday.

“Will is a powerhouse producer who has enjoyed success across all movie genres. He’s already bringing a boundless energy and a focus on innovation to this year’s Oscars, to entertain the widest spectrum of fans. Many wonderful surprises ahead!” Academy President David Rubin and Academy CEO Dawn Hudson said in a joint statement.

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Packer has produced a string of hit films, including Girls Trip, Straight Outta Compton, No Good Deed, Think Like a Man, Stomp the Yard, The Photograph, and Little, just to name a few. This will be his first time producing the Academy Awards.

“The power, the beauty, the romance of the imagery in movies has always attracted me,” said Packer. “I’m fully embracing the challenge of bringing an ode to one of the most iconic mediums in the world to life. What an honor!”

Packer’s television credits include That Girl Lay Lay, Blackballed, Ambitions, Bigger, Being Mary Jane, Uncle Buck and the remake of Roots, which brought him an Emmy nomination. He is the founder and CEO of film production company Will Packer Productions and Will Packer Media, a television, digital and branded content company.

Shayla Cowan, chief of staff at Packer’s companies, will co-produce the 2022 Academy Awards alongside Packer.

The 94th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The show will air live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide.