The Oscars aired a sketch spoofing Sean Penn’s death scene at the end of “One Battle After Another,” with the Academy disposing of O’Brien in the comical scene.

Conan O’Brien returning as 99th Oscars host despite ‘dying’ at end of 2026 Academy Awards

The Oscars aired a sketch spoofing Sean Penn's death scene at the end of "One Battle After Another," with the Academy disposing of O'Brien in the comical scene.

Joey Nolfi

Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at *. *Since 2016, his work at EW includes RuPaul’s Drag Race video interviews, Oscars predictions, and more.

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May 12, 2026 4:47 p.m. ET

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Conan O'Brien returning to host 99th Oscars despite 'dying' at 2026 show. Credit:

- Conan O'Brien will once again return to host the 2027 Oscars.

- O'Brien returns despite "dying" at the end of the 2026 show in a sketch that spoofed *One Battle After Another*.

- The 2027 Oscars are the penultimate broadcast on ABC, with the 101st ceremony moving to YouTube.

Though he "died" a comical death in a pre-taped sketch at the end of the 2026 Oscars, comedian Conan O'Brien will once again return to host the 99th Academy Awards ceremony in 2027.

O'Brien famously filmed a fake death scene that played in the closing moments of March's Oscars ceremony, in a spoof of a fate shared by (spoiler alert) reigning Best Supporting Actor winner Sean Penn's character in the Best Picture-winning thriller *One Battle After Another.*

The scene (below) saw O'Brien celebrated for his work in hosting the Oscars, alongside a running joke that he'd host the ceremony "for life." In a scene that echoes Penn's fate in the aforementioned film, O'Brien is led to a private office inside the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences headquarters, where a green gas seeps through the vents and "kills" him.

The Academy and ABC announced the news of O'Brien's return on Tuesday at the network's upfront presentation, where it was also revealed that producers Raj Kapoor, Katy Mullan, Jeff Ross, and Mike Sweeney will also return for next year's show.

O'Brien previously hosted the Oscars in 2026 and 2025, making the 2027 edition his third consecutive ceremony as emcee.

"Conan has created remarkable energy around the Oscars," said President of Disney Television Group Craig Erwich in a press statement about the news. "His singular comedic voice makes Hollywood’s biggest night one of the most entertaining celebrations of the year. We’re proud to welcome him back and look forward to what he and the producing team deliver next."

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The 2027 edition will also be the Oscars' penultimate broadcast on longtime network home ABC, which has broadcast every televised Academy Awards ceremony since 1976.

The Academy announced in late 2025 a deal to move the show to YouTube amid the rise of digital streaming, with the 100th edition set to be the final on ABC.

Conan O'Brien hosts the 2025 Oscars.

PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty

Elsewhere in Oscars news, the Academy recently unveiled major rule changes — many of which were aimed at protecting Hollywood professionals from an influx of artificial intelligence in creative fields.

Among other changes, the acting branch is now only permitted to nominate "roles credited in the film’s legal billing and demonstrably performed by humans with their consent," while writing branch members can only vote for screenplays that are "human-authored."

The 99th Oscars air Sunday, March 14, 2027, on ABC, with O'Brien returning as host.

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