Marvel’s ‘The Avengers’ cast assembles to present at Oscars

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Feb. 6 that the members of Marvel’s “The Avengers” cast will assemble on stage at the Oscars.

Show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron announced that Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo and Chris Evans will present together at the 2013 Oscars.

"We are happy to re-unite the ‘Avengers’ cast to present on our show," said Zadan and Meron in a prepared statement. "Audiences who enjoyed the year's biggest box office hit will be excited to see these terrific actors back together again."

Several of the actors have been nominated for an Academy award before; Downey has been nominated twice, for his leading role in “Chaplin” (1992) and for his supporting role in “Tropic Thunder” (2008).

Renner also has been nominated twice, for his leading rol ein “The Hurt Locker,” which won Best Picture in 2009, and for his supporting role in “The Town” (2010).

Jackson was nominated for his supporting role in Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction” (1994). He also has a supporting role in Tarantino’s “Django Unchained,” one of this year’s Best Picture nominees.

Ruffalo was nominated for his supporting role in “The Kids are All Right,” a 2010 Best Picture nominee.

Evans is making his first appearance at the Oscars.

The announcement does not indicate whether the actors will appear in character. If they do, it’s a fair bet the audience will feel compelled to laugh at the superheroes’ jokes.

The 2013 Oscars will be presented Sunday, Feb. 24, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center. Seth MacFarlane will host this year’s show, which will be shown live on ABC.

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