Eddie Murphy to host Oscars?

Comedian-actor-singer Eddie Murphy is the first choice to host the 84th edition of the Academy Awards gala, reports Deadline.

Director Brett Ratner (Rush Hour, X-Men: The Last Stand), who is producing the gala awards show next year, has just finished working with the Beverly Hills Cop star on the comedic thriller Tower Heist with Ben Stiller.

Murphy, 50, was nominated for best supporting actor in 2007 for his role as James ‘Thunder’ Everly in Dreamgirls, and won a Golden Globe for his performance.

Although many of his contemporaries have hosted the Oscars – Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal, and Steve Martin – the Saturday Night Live comedian has yet to host.

“Nobody knows movies better or is a bigger cinephile than Eddie. Not Brett. Not even Quentin Tarantino,” according to an insider. “Eddie can quote scenes from every single movie word for word.”

“He can bring all that experience to hosting. Plus he has ‘Saturday Night Live’ experience before a live crowd….” Billy Crystal is said to have shown interest as well, however nothing has been confirmed yet.

Last year, James Franco and Anne Hathaway hosted the ceremony to lackluster reviews. The next Academy Awards will be held February 26.

Murphy’s latest film Tower Heist with Ben Stiller and Casey Affleck will be released in theaters on November 4. Also due out January 13, is the dramedy A Thousand Words, starring Murphy and Juno’s Allison Janney.