Brian Grazer to produce the Oscars

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Just 24 hours after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences lost its Oscar producer, Brett Ratner, and then its host, Eddie Murphy, the organization announced that Oscar-winning producer Brian Grazer would come aboard as the show’s producer.

‘Brian Grazer is a renowned filmmaker who over the past 25 years has produced a diverse and extraordinary body of work,’ said academy president Tom Sherak. ‘He will certainly bring his tremendous talent, creativity and relationships to the Oscars.’

‘It’s very gratifying to be part of a show that honors excellence in the medium to which I have devoted so much of my career,’ said Grazer, who will produce along with Don Mischer. ‘Don is a legend, and I am excited to work with him.’

‘I am thrilled to welcome Brian Grazer as my partner and that we will be collaborating to produce an outstanding show,’ Mischer said.

It’s still unclear whom Grazer will bring along as the host of the show. Grazer, who produced Ratner’s ‘Tower Heist,’ which stars Murphy and Ben Stiller, has a close relationship with Murphy, and has long wanted to produce the awards telecast. It’s intriguing that the academy is going with Grazer, given his close association with Ratner. Still to be seen is whether Grazer will try to bring Murphy back into the fold, or look for someone else.

Grazer is also likely to have a horse in the Oscar race, with the Clint Eastwood film ‘J.Edgar’ that he produced.

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-- Nicole Sperling