Updated 3:50 p.m. PT:
The motion picture academy has tapped Oscar-winning producer Brian Grazer to produce the Oscars telecast, moving quickly to contain the damage after losing producer Brett Ratner and host Eddie Murphy in rapid succession.
This will be Grazer's first stint producing the Oscars. He will join Don Mischer in producing the 84th annual Academy Awards show on Feb. 26.
"Brian Grazer is a renowned filmmaker who over the past 25 years has produced a diverse and extraordinary body of work," Academy president Tom Sherak said. "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. "Don is a legend, and I am excited to work with him."
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences had a crisis on its hands after Ratner, then Murphy, exited the show in a 24-hour period. Ratner resigned on Tuesday in the wake of vulgar public statements that incensed Academy members and officials. Murphy, who accepted the hosting gig at the request of Ratner, withdrew on Wednesday morning.
An individual with knowledge of Grazer's status told TheWrap he accepted the role at the request of the Academy leadership. Although Grazer's working relationship with Murphy may well have been a factor in the initial contact, which came when the Academy was still hoping to retain the show's host, Murphy's withdrawal rendered the point moot.
Grazer will not seek to convince Murphy to come back as host, the individual said.
Grazer, who won an Oscar for the 2001 film "A Beautiful Mind," accepted the gig because he believed the Academy needed him, and was excited about the challenge. Grazer is certainly a choice more in line with the prestigious institution than the rambunctious Ratner, known for action films.
Grazer also received Best Picture nominations in 1995 and 2008 for "Apollo 13" and "Frost/Nixon," respectively. His current projects include the about to be released "J. Edgar" and the just-released "Tower Heist," directed by Ratner and starring Murphy.
The new producer's first order of business will be to line up a new host. Although this is not late in the Oscar timetable to be recruiting a host, the impulse to replace Murphy quickly will be strong.
Although lots of names have been bandied about — and a web campaign to get the Muppets to host has launched — the first name on the lips of many Academy members on Wednesday was Billy Crystal, who would be perceived as a savior righting the ship after the unfortunate Ratner episode.
Crystal has in the past been reluctant to return to host the show, but the role of "the host who saved the Oscars" could well appeal to his ego.
Earlier:
Eddie Murphy has withdrawn as host of the Oscar ceremony, the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences announced on Wednesday.
The decision came a day after his friend Brett Ratner resigned as producer of the telecast in the wake of his making offensive public remarks that upset AMPAS members.
Also read: Oscar Shocker! Brett Ratner Resigns as Producer of Telecast
In a statement Murphy said, "I completely understand and support each party's decision with regard to a change of producers for this year's Academy Awards ceremony. I was truly looking forward to being a part of the show that our production team and writers were just starting to develop, but I'm sure that the new production team and host will do an equally great job."
Because Murphy had accepted the hosting gig at the invitation of Ratner, many Oscar-watchers (including this one) speculated that Ratner's resignation might lead to this outcome.The two have just collaborated on the comedy caper, "Tower Heist."
Also read: Brett Ratner Apologizes Again — Sorta
Murphy already had a stormy history with the Oscars. He appeared on the show several times, most recently when he presented Jerry Lewis with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2009, but is famously known for making an early exit from the Kodak Theater in 2006 after losing to Alan Arkin in the Best Supporting Actor category.
That nomination, for "Dreamgirls," was the only one of Murphy's career.
Murphy was reported to be upset at Ratner's departure, but most Academy members contacted after the producer's departure speculated that Murphy would wait before deciding whether to exit.
"He needs to stay on and work with the new producer, or it'll look like he's supporting the stuff that Brett said," said one member of the public relations branch on Tuesday afternoon. "He won't look good if he leaves now."
Murphy, though, recently told Rolling Stone that he considers himself "a semi-retired gentleman of leisure," and said, "I only want to do what I really want to do, otherwise I'm content to sit here and play my guitar all day."
Early in his career, Murphy dealt with his own charges of homophobia, and apologized for joking about AIDS and using derogatory language to refer to gays.
Murphy's exit leaves the Academy with two big holes to fill in the upcoming show: a producer to work alongside Don Mischer, and a host to replace Murphy.
While the producers are virtually always in place by this time of year, it is common for the Oscars not to have a host at this point in the calendar.
Of the last three Oscar hosts, or host teams, only the Steve Martin/Alec Baldwin pairing at the 2009 Oscars was announced in early November. Last year's hosts, James Franco and Anne Hathaway, weren't in place until November 29, while 2008 host Hugh Jackman wasn't announced until mid December.
In the past, hosts have been announced as late as early January.
The AMPAS press release:
Eddie Murphy Exits as Host of 84th Academy Awards®
Beverly Hills, CA – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Tom Sherak announced that Eddie Murphy has withdrawn as host of the 84th Academy Awards. "I appreciate how Eddie feels about losing his creative partner, Brett Ratner, and we all wish him well," said Sherak.
Commented Murphy, "First and foremost I want to say that I completely understand and support each party's decision with regard to a change of producers for this year's Academy Awards ceremony. I was truly looking forward to being a part of the show that our production team and writers were just starting to develop, but I'm sure that the new production team and host will do an equally great job."
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar® presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.