Hugh Jackman to host 2009 Oscars - 81st Annual Academy Awards

With the Oscar season heating up, talk has turned to who will host this year's 81st Annual Academy Awards, and the Academy seems set on a host that may surprise you. According to Deadline Hollywood Daily, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have made an offer to actor Hugh Jackman to host this year's awards.

However, one of the show's trademark's might not happen if Jackman hosts: the joke-ladened opening monologue.

"I don't want that for him," an insider told the site. "He is an actor with big movies behind him and one coming this summer. He didn't work the last 20 years to suddenly be a stand-up comedian."

"If this is a different version of the Oscars than in previous years, then Hugh would be great," the insider added. "But I have no interest in him being Billy Crystal."

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Jackman has been confirmed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to host this year's Oscar telecast.

The Academy has in the past few decades rarely chosen a pure actor to host the ceremony, preferring instead stand-up comics or television hosts such as Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal and David Letterman. Jon Stewart hosted the event two of the past three years.

Jackman has starred in a host of films, including titles in the "X-Men" franchise, "Flushed Away" and Christopher Nolan's "The Prestige." He has also appeared onstage in "The Boy From Oz," for which he won the 2004 Tony for best actor in a musical, as well as "Carousel," "Oklahoma!" "Sunset Boulevard" and "Beauty and the Beast."

Jackman also starred in one of the fall film season's disappointments, "Australia," setting the stage for at least a few potential onstage jokes about the movie and its boxoffice performance.

He was recently voted the Sexiest Man Alive by People magazine, a factor that could boost viewership.

What do you think of that news? Do you think Jackman will do a big song and dance number as he is a major player in the world of musical theatre?

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