Jimmy Kimmel is returning as host of the Academy Awards for the second straight year and fourth time overall, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday, reports The Guardian.
Broadcaster ABC is turning again to its late-night host a year after bringing Kimmel back for a 2023 ceremony that drew 18.7 million viewers, the most since 2020’s pre-pandemic broadcast but still the third worst ever recorded.
In the wake of Will Smith’s slap of Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, Kimmel led a cautious ceremony that helped stabilize the Academy Awards after years of turmoil.
Kimmel also hosted the Oscars in 2017 and 2018.
“I always dreamed of hosting the Oscars exactly four times,” Kimmel said in a statement.
The Academy previously announced that Raj Kapoor will serve as executive producer and showrunner, Katy Mullan will executive produce and Hamish Hamilton will direct.
They’ll be joined by Molly McNearney, executive producer of Jimmy Kimmel Live and Kimmel’s wife, who will return for a second consecutive year to serve as an executive producer for the show.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
