85TH OSCARS(R) TO FEATURE SPECIAL CELEBRATION OF JAMES BOND

The 85th Academy Awards(R) will include a tribute to the James Bond movie franchise which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, the telecast's producers announced today.

"We are very happy to include a special sequence on our show saluting the Bond films on their 50th birthday," said producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. "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."

The 85th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 10, 2013, at 5:30 a.m., PT in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2012 will be presented on Oscar(R) Sunday, February 24, 2013, at the Dolby Theatre(TM) at Hollywood & Highland Center(R), and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

About Craig Zadan and Neil Meron

Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are producers of critically acclaimed and award-winning feature films, television movies, series and Broadway productions. Their feature films include "The Bucket List," "Footloose," "Hairspray" and "Chicago" -- which won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture. For television they've produced the films "Steel Magnolias," "Life with Judy Garland" and "A Raisin in the Sun," among many others, and the series "Smash" and "Drop Dead Diva." They recently returned to their roots in live theater by producing Broadway revivals of the Tony-winning "Promises, Promises" and the Tony-winning 50th Anniversary revival of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."