Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman could be on their way to the Oscars – as potential hosts. With awards season getting closer, it’s also that time of year when the biggest night in Hollywood needs to find a host to guide its ceremony. The Academy Awards has tried a variety of things in the past when it comes to finding a host for the event, including having no host at all, and it’s possible for the next experiment that they will look to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Deadpool & Wolverine for next year’s entertainment.
Per Deadline, the road to finding the right host for the Oscars is underway, and it may very well include more than one person. In serious contention for the honors are Deadpool & Wolverine themselves, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. The tentative plan being kicked around is to have an ensemble of rotating hosts that will take on their own portion of the show. It would appear that Reynolds and Jackman have been approached about doing the show, but, as of now, their willingness to participate has been mixed. While the duo have great on-screen chemistry and are also solid in interviews together promoting their projects, there is always a risk when actors who don’t normally host shows like this take on the job (just ask James Franco and Anne Hathaway). Jackman does have experience leading the show, having done so in 2009, and he’s also hosted the Tony Awards a total of four times. That being said, the decision may also come down to how much Deadpool & Wolverine campaign for the Oscars, with some saying the film will definitely campaign in a few major categories.
Reynolds and Jackman aren’t the only big names being considered. Also in possible contention are Dwayne Johnson, Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler. Johnson has the movie star personality that could be good for the show, and he’s naturally charming, which is possibly why this isn’t the first time he has been considered to host the show. Ferrell and Poehler have considerable chemistry as a duo and are proven comedians, with Poehler already showing her hosting chops when she took on the Golden Globes on more than one occasion with Tina Fey. There is also a possibility the show could run with no host as they did in 2019, 2020, and 2021, while the rotating host scenario wouldn’t be new as well, since Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes were tasked to experiment with the format in 2022.
Having The Stars of Deadpool & Wolverine Host Could Boost Ratings
Securing stars like Reynolds and Jackman could also lead to increased viewership for the ceremony, which hasn’t seen the ratings heights it once did due to a variety of factors. One criticism of the show has always been that The Academy nominates films that the general public hasn’t seen, while ignoring more mainstream fare. If the duo did host in some capacity, the ceremony would have the stars of a $1.33 billion global earner to help boost ratings. It also doesn’t hurt that the ceremony airs on ABC, a network that Disney owns along with the Marvel fold, so the actors would already be in the Mouse House family.
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The show has been looking for a host since Jimmy Kimmel decided to sit the upcoming ceremony out to focus on his family and late-night duties. For the most part, Kimmel has been well-received as a host when he took on in 2017, 2018, and 2023, so finding the right replacement is essential for the network. John Mulaney was also approached following presenting this year in a comedic bit that was called some of the best material of the night. The comedian ultimately decided to turn down the offer to focus on his upcoming variety show, leaving The Academy to continue its search.