Chris Rock close to returning as Oscar host?

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Christopher Julius “Chris” Rock III has been called one of the greatest stand-up comics. He’s also a producer, director, writer and actor. Let’s look at career highlights. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)

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Another seminal moment was when Rock joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live.” Here, he and castmate Chris Farley are announced as part of the cast at a Sept. 19, 1990, press conference. (Richard Drew / Associated Press)

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Rock starred in his first HBO comedy special in 1994, then in 1996 did “Bring the Pain,” which garnered him two Emmy Awards and gained large critical acclaim. (Bob Carey / Los Angeles Times)

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Rock hosted the 77th Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles on Feb. 27, 2005. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

By Glenn WhippColumnist

Oct. 20, 2015 3 PM PT

When the film academy announced last month that Reginald Hudlin and David Hill would produce the 88th Oscars, we speculated that Chris Rock would be a front-runner to host the show.

Now Rock’s return to the awards season’s biggest hosting gig seems to be one step closer to happening as Variety is reporting that Rock “is in serious talks” with “an official announcement expected shortly.”

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Rock hosted the Oscars in 2005. Hudlin has worked with him previously, directing the pilot episode of Rock’s TV show “Everybody Hates Chris.”

An Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences spokesperson would not confirm the reports.

glenn.whipp@latimes.com

@glennwhipp

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