American television host Jimmy Kimmel will return to host the Oscars, marking the 96th edition of the prestigious ceremony. The event is scheduled for March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, as announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on a recent Wednesday.
“I have always dreamed of hosting the Oscars exactly four times”, Kimmel stated in a release from the organization, which presented the prior ceremony in March of this year.
Kimmel will be joined by his wife and fellow writer for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Molly McNearney, who will also return in a leadership role. He served as executive producer for the ceremony, which was broadcast by ABC.
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“We are excited to have Jimmy back as host and Molly back as executive producer. Their shared passion for cinema and commitment to delivering lively, entertaining programming resonates with a global audience”, said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang in a joint statement.
Kimmel previously hosted the show in 2017 and 2018, with a 2023 return that drew a strong audience rebound for the telecast, according to Nielsen data, which recorded nearly 19 million viewers.
For the 96th Oscar ceremony, films such as Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer are expected to dominate nominations. Other prominent contenders include Martin Scorsese’s The Moon Killers and Bradley Cooper’s Maestro.
The short list of English-language contenders will be announced on December 18, after which Academy members have four weeks to reveal the full slate of nominations on January 23. Following a little over a month of anticipation, the 96th Oscars will take place on March 10, with the traditional Nominations Luncheon scheduled for February 12.
The ceremony will be broadcast live by ABC in more than 200 countries and regions around the world.
Kimmel is among the longest-serving hosts in American late-night television history. His most recent Oscar hosting stint in 2023 earned him an Emmy nomination, underscoring the continued relevance of his brand of humor for this global audience.