The Academy announced Tuesday that the theme of the 2014 Oscars is Movie Heroes.

“We wanted to unify the show with an entertaining and emotional theme,” said Oscar 2014 producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. “People around the world go to the movies to be inspired by the characters they see on the screen. By celebrating the gamut of heroes who have enriched our movie-going experience, we hope to create an evening of fun and joy. And that includes the filmmakers and actors who take risks and stimulate us with provocative subjects and daring characters. They are all heroes in the cinematic landscape.”

“Of course, there will be no shortage of comedy with Ellen DeGeneres as our host,” the producers added. “There may also be a few musical surprises along the way.”

Said DeGeneres about today’s announcement:

To coincide with the Oscar theme, the Academy will present “The Oscars Celebrates Movie Heroes,” an exhibition in the Grand Lobby Gallery of its Beverly Hills headquarters beginning Friday, January 17 and running through Wednesday, March 5. It will feature photos, posters, and videos from movies centered on real-life heroes (Gandhi, Silkwood), super heroes (Superman, The Dark Knight), animated heroes (Shrek, The Incredibles), action heroes (Seven Samurai, Gladiator), literary heroes (To Kill a Mockingbird, Grapes of Wrath) and more. These particular selections clue us into what type of hero segments we’ll see during the Oscars telecast.

Last year’s Oscars theme centered on the music in movies, and there were several numbers performed throughout the night. Songs from Les Miserables, Ted, Skyfall, Dreamgirls, and Chicago took center stage and made the evening feel like a concert at times.

The 2014 Oscars will be hosted by Ellen DeGeneres and air live Sunday, March 2 on ABC. This year’s nominees will be announced this Thursday, January 16 and Hypable will be at the event to cover the unveiling.