Chris Rock will in all likelihood host the 88th Academy Awards, according to a number of trade sources including Variety and the Hollywood Reporter. An official announcement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is said to be coming shortly.
Should he host next year, it would mark the comedian’s second time hosting Hollywood’s most illustrious awards ceremony – he hosted in 2005. Also working in Rock’s favour: the ceremony’s new co-producer, Reginald Hudlin, directed Rock in the pilot of his series, Everybody Hates Chris.
Hudlin and co-producer David Hill were brought on to produce next year’s Oscars after this year’s show, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, took a 16% tumble in the ratings.
Last year, Rock told the Wrap that had he been offered the role of hosting the 87th edition, he “definitely” would have taken the gig. “I didn’t get an offer,” he said. “I mean, it’s Neil Patrick Harris. It’s like, who would pick me before Neil Patrick Harris? He’s an amazing host.”
In the decade since Rock last hosted, Ellen DeGeneres hosted twice (in 2007 and 2014), as did Jon Stewart (2006, 2008).
The 2016 Oscars will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on 28 February.
Watch Rock’s monologue from the 2005 Oscars in which he jokingly took aim at Jude Law for starring in too many movies:
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