*Comedian Kevin Hart announced that he’s officially set to host the 91st Academy Awards ceremony.
The Hollywood Reporter noted that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences held talks with Hart about hosting the event. The actor is emceeing for the first time and succeeds Jimmy Kimmel, who has hosted the last two Academy Awards.
“I will be sure to make this years Oscars a special one,” the comedian wrote Tuesday in an Instagram post, adding, “now it’s time to rise to the occasion.”
“For years I have been asked if I would ever host the Oscars and my answer was always the same…I said that it would be the opportunity of a lifetime for me as a comedian and that it will happen when it’s suppose to,” he wrote. “I am so happy to say that the day has finally come for me to host the Oscars. I am blown away simply because this has been a goal on my list for a long time….To be able to join the legendary list of hosts that have graced that stage is unbelievable.”
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Welcome to the family, @kevinhart4real! #Oscars https://t.co/vfcxAeJlwQ
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) December 5, 2018
Kimmel sent Hart his well wishes on Twitter, writing, “Congratulations amigo – @TheAcademy made an excellent choice. You are going to kill it.”
The “Night School” star has previously hosted the BET Awards in 2011 and the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards.
“I will be sure to make this years (sic) Oscars a special one,” Hart added.
The Academy confirmed the news, tweeting: “Welcome to the family, @kevinhart4real.”
Hart has publicly spoken about wanting to host the Oscars since 2015, when he told “Live With Kelly and Michael” (now “Live With Kelly and Ryan”) that he was actively campaigning to get the role.
“That would be a major accomplishment. With what I’ve done and the progress I’ve made in my career, that’s definitely the next major step, I feel, for a comedian,” Hart said to the hosts at the time.
The Oscars will air live on Sunday, Feb. 24, on ABC.
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