Oscar winners Adrien Brody and Javier Bardem donned their comfiest sweatpants and T-shirts as they practiced for the March 15 Academy Awards.
Will ‘Sinners’ shock at the Oscars? Our Academy Awards picks
USA TODAY film critic Brian Truitt reveals his 2026 Academy Awards predictions, including the best actress, actor and picture categories.
LOS ANGELES ‒ The ladies of “Bridesmaids” are ready to party.
Decked out in blue jeans and maroon sweatpants, Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph riotously reunited with co-stars Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne and Ellie Kemper during a laid-back afternoon rehearsal on the eve of the Academy Awards.
The all-star cast is set to present at the March 15 ceremony, in celebration of their bawdy hit comedy’s 15th anniversary. The women’s rapport was on sweet display as they giddily hung out on the Dolby Theatre stage.
“There’s Stellan! Hey, Stellan!” Byrne said as she walked out before the run-through began, waving to Stellan Skarsgård’s empty seat marked only by a giant printout picture.
Byrne’s full-throated laugh rang out as she joked around between bits with McCarthy, who playfully pretended to sucker punch the Oscar-nominated actress in the stomach. On the other side of the stage, Kemper and Rudolph were spotted dancing and twirling in place, while Wiig was nobly tasked with handing out Oscar statuettes to stand-in “winners.”
“I’m so excited to accept this award from five of my favorite actors,” one man said as he held up a little gold man, breathlessly reciting a mock acceptance speech.
Other stand-ins effusively thanked everyone from their parents to Michael B. Jordan, while one woman appeared to get emotional as she exclaimed, “I was not expecting this! I am absolutely shocked and grateful.”
Every year, the Oscar rehearsals offer a unique opportunity for journalists to get a peek at some of Hollywood’s biggest names at their most dressed-down. Last year’s best actor winner, Adrien Brody (“The Brutalist”), rehearsed onstage with orange-framed sunglasses dangling from his collar, while wearing a dark gray T-shirt emblazoned “Hollywood.”
Javier Bardem showed up in sweatpants and roamed around the theater shaking people’s hands, jestingly assuring one Oscars producer, “I promise! I will learn the lines!”
Casually chatting with reporters, Academy CEO Bill Kramer teased this year’s leafy, earth-toned set design for the ceremony, which aims to provide a Zen, grounded space for Hollywood’s best and brightest to gather. (Anecdotally, the Dolby’s crisp air conditioning also offers a much-welcome respite from the unseasonal California heat.)
Additionally, Kramer hinted at a mind-blowing “Sinners” performance and epic opening from returning host Conan O’Brien, who hilariously sprinted through a familiar sequence at rehearsals.
Although we’re sworn to secrecy, let’s just say we doubt he’ll get ripped to shreds.
