The Oscars are slated to move forward without a host this year, the first time that’s happened in more than three decades. The Academy had initially slated Kevin Hart to host, until some old jokes came back to haunt him, which prompted him to exit the role. Now, Hart’s Jumanji co-star Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has taken to Twitter to claim he was the first choice to host, but his schedule prevented it from happening.
Ah mahalo dude, I was their first choice to host this year, and my goal was to make it the most fun and entertaining Oscars ever. We all tried hard, but couldn’t make it work since I’m shooting Jumanji. Academy and I were super bummed but maybe one day down the road ? https://t.co/eiiMuBNOzb
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) February 6, 2019
Johnson was responding journalist Dan Buffa’s suggestion that he should host, tweeting that he was “their first choice to host this year, and my goal was to make it the most fun and entertaining Oscars ever. We all tried hard, but couldn’t make it work since I’m shooting Jumanji. Academy and I were super bummed but maybe one day down the road.“
It’s worth noting that, since Hart is also returning to the upcoming Jumanji 3, his schedule wasn’t an issue. However, every actor’s shooting days vary from project to project, and with Johnson as the lead, he may not have been able to make it work.
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The Academy Awards have gone without a host only one time before, and before then, there were instances of big-named talent such as Bob Hope, Jack Lemmon, Rosalind Russell, and, of course, Donald Duck, sharing the duties. The last time more than three people hosted the event was in 1987 when Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn, and Paul Hogan worked the stage together.
The 91st Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 24, 2019, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscars also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
