“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 February 27,”
You can call it unconventional bit of casting if you want, nobody will disagree with you.
James Franco and Anne Hathaway have been selected to host the 83rd Academy Awards, held in Los Angeles at the start of 2011.Oscar telecast producers Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer announced the choice Monday.
While the Oscar broadcast has been most often turned to a stand-up comedian, the show has occasionally reached out to a wider range of performers. For example, the 59th Academy Awards were hosted by Chevy Chase, Paul Hogan and Goldie Hawn.
Both Franco and Hathaway have made previous appearances on the Oscars. Hathaway joined host Hugh Jackman for a song-and-dance number two years ago, and Franco, who has shown off his hosting skills on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE has appeared as a presenter.
The two could also find themselves serving double duty as nominees: Franco is being positioned as best actor contender for his dramatic turn in the new Danny Boyle effort 127 HOURS and Hathaway is a long-shot possibility for Best Actress in the romantic comedy LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS, directed by Ed Zwick.
“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 February 27,” Cohen and Mischer told THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER in a statement. “We are completely thrilled that James and Anne will be joining forces with our brilliant creative team to do just that.”
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