Hugh Jackman to host new-look Oscars

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Actors Hugh Jackman (L) and Nicole Kidman pose before a news conference in Sydney on the day of the world premiere of their new film "Australia", Nov. 18, 2008.Jackman topped People magazine's annual list of the most attractive guys in the world.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has confirmed that Hugh Jackman will host the 81st annual Academy Awards.

The academy said Friday that the 40-year-old Australian actor, recently named People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive," will host the Oscars.

Jackman stars in Baz Luhrmann's romantic adventure film "Australia" with Nicole Kidman.

The actor first claimed fame as Wolverine in the "X-Men" movie franchise. His other movie credits include 2006's "The Prestige" and 2004's "Van Helsing."

　The announcement marked a departure from the academy's standard of big-name comedians. Jon Stewart, who hosted in 2008 and 2006, and Ellen DeGeneres, the 2007 host, were the latest in a line of funny emcees since 1990. Billy Crystal did it eight times, Whoopi Goldberg took on four, Steve Martin did it twice and David Letterman and Chris Rock each had a shot.

With new producers, a new set director and even a new music director, the Academy has been hinting at an all new look and feel for this year’s Oscars telecast Feb. 22.

"Thirty years ago when I was in Sydney watching Johnny Carson host the Oscars with my family, I never imagined that I'd one day have the chance to be up on that stage myself," Jackman said in a statement. "I am very grateful to the Academy for giving me this opportunity. And, excited to be working with Larry and Bill on what I know will be a fun and memorable celebration."

Actor Huge Jackman to host Academy Awards show as Oscar seeks change

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Actor Hugh Jackman was surprisingly named Friday by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as the host of the 81st annual Academy Awards ceremony, scheduled for Feb. 22 at Kodak Theater in Hollywood.

It is an unusual twist that Jackman, who was chosen 2008's "Sexiest Man Alive" by People magazine last month, will host the Hollywood's biggest annual gala night, which has traditionally been helmed by big-name comedians, like Jon Stewart and Ellen DeGeneres.

Actress Nicole Kidman arrives with actor Hugh Jackman(L) for the premiere of the film "Australia" in New York November 24, 2008.

The 40-year-old Australian actor recently starred opposite Nicole Kidman, also from Australia, in 20th Century Fox's romantic adventure film "Australia," which was widely released last month and among top performers at the box office currently in the United States.

"Hugh is the ideal choice to host a celebration of the year's movies -- and to have fun doing it," Oscars show producer Laurence Mark and executive producer Bill Condon said in a joint statement issued Friday.

"Hugh Jackman is a consummate entertainer and an internationally renowned movie star. He also has style, elegance and a sense of occasion," they said.

Academy Awards organizers have reportedly hired new producers for the annual ceremony to seek an image change in order to increase the ratings of this year's Oscars telecast.

It will be Jackman's first time hosting the awards ceremony, although he has previously been a presenter. He won an Emmy Award for hosting the 2004 Tony Awards ceremony.

Jackman claimed his fame as an A-list actor after playing Wolverine in the previous three "X-Men" movies. He will next be seen in the "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," the fourth installment of the franchise.

"Australia" premiere NY

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Actress Nicole Kidman attends the premiere of "Australia" at The Ziegfeld Theatre in New York on Monday, Nov. 24, 2008.

"Australia" premieres in New York

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Actors Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman arrive for the premiere of the film "Australia" in New York Nov. 24, 2008.

Actors Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman (R) are shown in a scene from director Baz Luhrmann's new film "Australia" in this undated publicity photograph released on Nov. 11, 2009.

Actress Nicole Kidman arrives for the premiere of the film "Australia" in New York Nov. 24, 2008.

Actress Nicole Kidman arrives with husband, Keith Urban, for the premiere of the film "Australia" in New York Nov. 24, 2008.

Actress Nicole Kidman arrives with her husband Keith Urban for the premiere of the film "Australia" in New York Nov. 24, 2008.

Actors Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman (R) are shown in a scene from director Baz Luhrmann's new film "Australia" in this undated publicity photograph released on Nov. 11, 2009. Luhrmann's 130-million U.S. dollars epic film "Australia" is due to make its world premiere in Sydney on Tuesday -- but the director says he has not finished it yet.

Actors Nicole Kidman is shown in a scene from director Baz Luhrmann's new film "Australia" in this undated publicity photograph released on Nov. 11, 2009.

Actors Nicole Kidman is shown in a scene from director Baz Luhrmann's new film "Australia" in this undated publicity photograph released on Nov. 11, 2009.

Actors Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman (L) are shown in a scene from director Baz Luhrmann's new film "Australia" in this undated publicity photograph released on Nov. 11, 2009.

Luhrmann gives Kidman, Jackman a happy ending in "Australia"

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A poster of the movie "Australia" starring Nicole Kidman and hugh Jackman.

Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman's hunky new love (Hugh Jackman) doesn't lose his life in the final scene of "Australia" after director Baz Luhrmann bowed to pressure from Twentieth Century Fox to give the big-budget movie a happy ending, news reports said Sunday. Luhrmann, who is racing against time to ready the epic for worldwide release on Nov. 26, had initially killed off Jackman's character, identified only as the Drover, just before the credits rolled.

But the money men at Fox insisted on changes that transform "an action-filled tragedy" into more of a weepy romance, the Sunday Telegraph reported.

"Australia" is Luhrmann's first feature since 2001's Moulin Rouge! and Fox wants to be assured of recouping its 100-million-U.S.-dollar outlay.

The World War II romantic drama, only the Australian director's fourth feature in 16 years, has been talked up by Luhrmann as "high comedy, high tragedy, tears, laughter, costumes" which has "everything big - big actors, big landscape."

The screenplay is mostly Luhrmann's, helped along by Gould's Book of Fish author Richard Flanagan, and the paper reported he was persuaded to junk his original denouement for a happier one after focus-group testing threw up general disappointment.

In a film that initially ran for over three hours, Kidman plays English aristocrat Lady Sarah Ashley, who arrives in Australia to take over a zillion-hectare cattle property. She ends up in the arms of Jackman, who plays the rough and ready cowboy who saves the day.

"It's the first time anyone has tried to make a blockbuster outside of America and that's what he's doing," Flannagan said of his paymaster's work. "It will be an idea of Australia, a story about Australia, taking Australia to the world."

Some who have seen early takes of the film have raved about the breadth and scale of the undertaking, the superb cinematography and the loving treatment of the Outback.

The Sun Herald newspaper conducted a straw poll, with most respondents being pessimistic about box-office prospects.

A reader called Claire said the backdrop of a world economic crisis would help gate receipts because "when times get tough, the tough buy popcorn and try to forget reality."