Eddie Murphy Could Host the 2012 Oscars

Eddie Murphy at the Shrek the Third Premiere
Eddie Murphy at the 'Shrek the Third' Premiere - © Richard Chavez
Obviously choosing two young actors didn’t work out well for the Academy, so now apparently they’re looking to return to the tried and true format of a comedian/actor taking on hosting duties. Deadline reports Eddie Murphy is in talks to host the 84th Academy Awards to be held Sunday, February 26, 2012. And although Murphy hasn’t had a real hit in a few years (not counting Dreamgirls which was an ensemble and not an ‘Eddie Murphy’ film), he can be funny, spontaneous, and knows films so it could work. Come on, it’s got to be better than the Anne Hathaway/James Franco hosting fiasco, right?
 
It’s not a done deal yet, according to Deadline, but the ‘Eddie Murphy as host’ idea makes total sense because Brett Ratner’s in charge of the show this year and he recently directed Murphy in the comedy film, Tower Heist. Tower Heist, also starring Ben Stiller, Casey Affleck, and Matthew Broderick, will hit theaters on November 4th. Following that, Murphy will be seen in A Thousand Words – shot way back in early 2008 – in mid-January 2012.
 

–September 4, 2011