LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) — The comedian Kevin Hart, who has previously noted that he aspires to one day host the Academy will get his wish next year.
The Academy announced on Tuesday that the 39-year-old comedian would serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the 91st Oscar Awards when it takes place on February 24th.
“I’m so happy to say that the day has finally come for me to host the #Oscars,” Hart said in social media post after the news broke. “I am blown away simply because this has been a goal on my list for a long time.”
Hart will become one of just a select group of African-Americans to host the awards show in its almost century-long history, joining the likes of Chris Rock, Whoopi Goldberg and Richard Pryor.
Hart, who is in the middle of his own international standup tour, is no stranger to the cinema and has recently appeared in films such as “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” and “Night School.”
Hart’s colleagues lauded the choice, with Jimmy Kimmel tweeting his congratulations to Hart, writing: “Congratulations amigo -TheAcademy made an excellent choice. You are going to kill it”
Chris Rock, who hosted the Oscars in 2016, teased Hart via Instagram, writing: “Damn, I’ve lost another job to Kevin Hart. Congrats, can’t wait. They got the best person for the job.”
