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.
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