Is Eddie Murphy The Next Oscar Host?

Rumors are flying that Eddie Murphy could be the host of the 84th Academy Awards, to be broadcast in 2012. Producers have inquired about his willingness to emcee the show, and Deadline Hollywood reports that the actor is said to be “showing interest.”

Murphy was nominated for his role in the 2006 film “Dreamgirls” and was rumored to have been so outraged at his loss to Alan Arkin (for “Little Miss Sunshine”) that he stormed out of the theater.

Murphy would mark a return to comedian/actors as hosts. In 2011, actors James Franco and Anne Hathaway hosted the ceremony, and despite the best of intentions, it was critically panned. Franco later complained about the writing and sketches (including one where he came out in drag) being silly or completely unfunny.

Murphy as two films coming out just before the ceremony. One, “Tower Heist” is an action-comedy co-starring Ben Stiller. It comes out this November. “A Thousand Words” comes out in January. It centers around a blasé guy who learns that he has only 1,000 words left to speak before he will die. If the films are hits, it would be a triumph for Murphy to host. If they’re flops, it might be a tad embarassing, unless Murphy is willing to poke fun at himself and the recent projects during the show.

Other names thrown around as potential hosts for the upcoming show include Billy Crystal (who always nailed it, and always seems to come up ever year!) and Jerry Seinfeld. Even Oprah had been mentioned in some articles, but there were no sources that would corroborate it.

News confirming the true host could come as early as this week.