According to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the 50-year-old comedian-actor will play host to the event, to be aired on ABC, joining a starry host of comedians including Bob Burns, Bob Hope, Billy Crystalk David Letterman and Whoopi Goldberg.

　　"Eddie is a comedic genius, one of the greatest and most influential live performers ever," Brett Ratner, who produces the Academy Awards show with Don Mischer, said in a statement Tuesday.

　　"With his love of movies, history of crafting unforgettable characters and his iconic performances -- especially onstage -- I know he will bring an excitement, spontaneity and tremendous heart to the show Don and I want to produce in February," said Ratner.

　　The news on Eddie Murphy's new role at the Academy Awards event started to circulate over Labor day weekend, meaning that the Academy is returning to its original and comedic past in the wake of its unsuccessful attempt to win over the new generation of viewers by naming a pair of young hosts -- James Franco and Anne Hathaway -- at this year's presentation.

　　The new decision, however, is a bizarre one as Murphy, who earned a nomination for supporting actor Oscar in 2006's "Dreamgirls," has not appeared in any films since he was last seen in "Imagine That." The 2009 comedy-drama turned out to be a box office disaster, raking in only 16.1 million U.S. dollars in the United States and Canada.

　　As one of Murphy's latest productions, 2008's "Meet Dave" turned out to be another flop, making only 11.9 million dollars. The actor earned a nod for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor on his work in the film.