Oscars to pay tribute to James Bond

James Bond will be a VIP at the 85th Academy Awards on Feb. 24.

The U.S. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Friday that its annual Oscars ceremony will feature a tribute to the 007 franchise tomark its 50th anniversary.

Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron said the show will feature a special televised sequence saluting Bond in all his incarnations.

"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 producers said in a statement.

The 23 James Bond films have featured different men in the role of 007, starting with Sean Connery and moving on to George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig, who has played Bond in the last three films.

Craigs grittier depiction ofthe British spy has been a box office success, with the latest instalment,Skyfall, taking in $1 billion at the worldwide box office so far andearning a Producers' Guild Award nomination.

The Academy Award nominations will be announced next Thursday morning from Los Angeles.