It was but a rumour over the weekend, but on Tuesday it became true: Eddie Murphy has been officially hired to host the 84th Academy Awards, going solo on stage next February.
The 2012 show’s producers, Brett Ratner and Don Mischer, announced the decision via the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Naturally, there was backslappery all round…
"Eddie is a comedic genius, one of the greatest and most influential live performers ever," says Ratner in the press release. "With his love of movies, history of crafting unforgettable characters and his iconic performances – especially on stage – I know he will bring excitement, spontaneity and tremendous heart to the show Don and I want to produce in February."
Murphy seems delighted with the idea too: "I am enormously honoured to join the great list of past Academy Award hosts from Hope and Carson to Crystal, Martin and Goldberg, among others," said Murphy. "I'm looking forward to working with Brett and Don on creating a show that is enjoyable for both the fans at home and for the audience at the Kodak Theatre as we all come together to celebrate and recognize the great film contributions and collaborations from the past year."
The choice, of course, is less of a shocker given his past stand-up experience and the fact that he just worked with Ratner on crime comedy drama Tower Heist. But if you’re wondering what to expect from Murphy during his stint, look no further than what we were able to discern about his plans.
The Oscar ceremony goes down on February 26. What say you lot? Now he's all official and such, do you love the idea? Hate it? Speak your brains!