James Franco, Anne Hathaway to host Oscars

LOS ANGELES — Looks as if Oscar is going for younger eyes in the new year: James Franco and Anne Hathaway will host the 83rd Academy Awards, the show’s producers said Monday.

“James Franco and Anne Hathaway personify the next generation of Hollywood
icons — fresh, exciting and multi-talented. We hope to create an Oscar
broadcast that will both showcase their incredible talents and
entertain the world on Feb. 27,” said producers Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer. “We are completely thrilled.”

The “Love & Other Drugs” actress, 28, was
nominated for a 2009 Oscar and has appeared on the show five times.
Golden Globe winner Franco, 32, recently lauded for “127 Hours,” hasn’t
yet earned an Oscar nod, but has been on the show twice.

Both have also have hosted “Saturday Night Live,” which might be good prep. With the exception of Hugh Jackman two shows back, the broadcast has stuck with primarily comedic types for quite a while, tapping the likes of Billy Crystal, Ellen DeGeneres, Jon Stewart, Chris Rock and David Letterman in recent years — with Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin co-hosting most recently.

Perhaps Franco will take a page from his recent, audience-thrilling “Inside the Actors Studio”
appearance and stay an extra 90 minutes afterward to answer questions
from students and fans and sign autographs? Probably not — he and
Hathaway will be expected at the Governors Ball.

The Academy Awards will be held once again at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland in Los Angeles.

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