Jackman Looks to 'Humor' and 'Nudity' for Oscar Hosting Success

Hugh Jackman tell the Associated Press he'll be bringing plenty of nudity to this years Oscar telecast.

Jackman discussed his upcoming Academy Award hosting duties saying, "I haven't told anyone this, but we are going to do most of it naked and we're going to sing through the whole show," the affable actor joked during an interview backstage at the Kodak Theatre. "In fact, all the acceptance speeches are going to be sung. There will be some interpretive dance behind them, and I really think it will be beautiful and touching."

Recent internet reports have suggested he will open the glitzy ceremony by performing a song-and-dance routine with Oscar nominee Anne Hathaway.

Meanwhile comic superstar Ricky Gervais has revealed that Hugh Jackman has been caling him to get some advice on funny lines to use when he hosts the Oscars on Sunday.

The Office and Ghost Town star told UK's Newsbeat that the X-Men actor is a naturally funny guy, however, "He called me out of the blue a couple of weeks ago and now he just rings up and goes, 'Hi Rick, Hugh here'," explained Ricky Gervais.

"And we just chat, he wants gags, he wants to be funny at the Oscars. And he is funny, I just riff and, you know, come up with stuff. "I hope it goes down well. Yeah, Wolverine called me, I'm mates with Wolverine!" To read the entire chat with Gervais click here. 

Academy Awards producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon have said they plan to take the ceremony in a new direction. Asking the multitalented star of "Australia" and the "X-Men" films to host was their first apparent step.

The rest of the details have been under tight wraps, but Jackman, who has served as host of the Tony Awards for three times so far, dropped a few hints - including the rumored more "intimate" look and setting for the ceremony's home, the Kodak Theatre.

To read the entire AP interview click here.

Previous hosts have usually been TV or film comedians including Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, David Letterman, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Steve Martin, John Stewart, Chris Rock, Ellen DeGeneres and others.

Hugh Jackman was recently voted People's Sexiest Man of 2008.

In 2000, he was cast as Wolverine in Bryan Singer's X-Men. Jackman later reprised his role in 2003's X2: X-Men United, and 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand. Jackman starred as Leopold in the 2001 romantic comedy film Kate & Leopold, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. Jackman also starred in 2001 action/drama Swordfish, along with John Travolta, and Halle Berry.

Jackman sang the role of Billy Bigelow in Carousel in a special concert performance at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan, New York City in 2002. In 2004 he played the title role of vampire hunter Gabriel Van Helsing in Van Helsing. In 2004, Jackman won a Tony Award for his Broadway portrayal of Australian songwriter and performer Peter Allen in The Boy from Oz. He hosted the Tony Awards in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

In 2005 after his award-winning role in The Boy from Oz, he jumped into Darren Aronofsky's sci-fi experience The Fountain. Then Jackman filmed The Prestige directed by Christopher Nolan and also starring Christian Bale.

In 2007, Jackman produced and guest starred in the unsuccessful television drama Viva Laughlin. Jackman is also preparing a number of movies which he will both produce and star in, including Wolverine, estimated to begin filming in early 2008, and a remake of Carousel in which he will play Billy Bigelow.

Jackman's other stage credits include "Carousel," "Oklahoma!" "Sunset Boulevard" and "Beauty and the Beast."

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2008 will be
presented on Sunday, February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre at
Hollywood & Highland Center(R), and televised live by the ABC
Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live
in more than 200 countries worldwide.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world's
preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than
6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In
addition to the annual Academy Awards - in which the members vote to
select the nominees and winners - the Academy presents a diverse
year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides
financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations
and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion
picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and
Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides
access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and
other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the
entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

 

To post a comment, you must register and login.