UPDATE: It’s official! Eddie Murphy will host the Oscars at next year’s ceremony on February 26, 2012. “Eddie is a comedic genius, one of the greatest and most influential live performers ever,” Oscars producer Brett Ratner announced today. “With his love of movies, history of crafting unforgettable characters and his iconic performances — especially onstage — I know he will bring an excitement, spontaneity and tremendous heart to the show Don and I want to produce in February.”
After living through the sad trumpet sound that was the Anne Hathaway James Franco Oscars ceremony, rumors about Eddie Murphy’s Oscars hosting gig make us so excited, we forgot all about Norbit. Well, we almost forgot all about it, as clearly we were still able to remember to reference…okay, now it’s gone.
Deadline reports that next year’s Oscars producer, director Brett Ratner, is submitting Murphy’s name to the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences today, with the hopes that Eddie, who is allegedly “showing interest,” will officially come onboard as 2012 host. Ratner likely came up with the idea from casting Murphy across from Ben Stiller in his upcoming Tower Heist, where he was reminded how good Murphy can be even when not channeled by a whimsical, kind-hearted CGI donkey.
