Comedian Chris Rock has been confirmed as host for the 2016 Oscars.
Rock confirmed the news on Twitter, announcing “Look who’s back” while posing with an Academy award.
Look who's back. #Oscars. pic.twitter.com/7TkkrDpSJM
— Chris Rock (@chrisrock) October 21, 2015
“I’m so glad to be hosting the Oscars,” the 50-year-old said in a statement. “It’s great to be back.”
Rock’s turn as host follows Neil Patrick Harris, whose tricksy turn incorporating a song-and-dance routine, a magic trick and the host stripping to his underwear in an homage to Birdman, garnered lukewarm reviews.
More crucially for the Academy, the viewing figures for the TV broadcast were down 16%, to their lowest total for six years.
Rock has had a good 12 months, most recently directing Amy Schumer in an HBO comedy special, and writing, directing and starring in his own feature film, Top Five. He has also won multiple awards as a comic, including three Grammys and four Emmys.
“Chris Rock is truly the MVP of the entertainment industry,” said the show’s producers, David Hill and Reginald Hudlin. “Comedian, actor, writer, producer, director, documentarian – he’s done it all. He’s going to be a phenomenal Oscar host!”
Hudlin directed Rock in the pilot of his series, Everybody Hates Chris, which ran from 2005 to 2009.
Rock’s turn as host 11 years ago received a mixed response, with a riff on the number of films Jude Law was then appearing in receiving a frosty reception from Sean Penn.
Rock had said in his opening monologue: “If you want Tom Cruise and all you can get is Jude Law, wait!”
Presenting the best actress award, Penn responded that Law was “one of our finest actors”.
In the promotional campaign for Top Five, Rock vehemently criticised Hollywood for its lack of commitment to racial diversity – an allegation also levelled at last year’s Oscars, which had no actors of colour nominated in the major categories.
The 2016 Oscars will be held at the Dolby theatre in Hollywood on 28 February.
