Well this news sure is surprising! Nikki Finke at Deadline is reporting that Oscar producer Brett Ratner has chosen Eddie Murphy to host the 2012 Oscar awards. How accurate is this report? We’ll examine it after the break!

According to Nikki Finke:

…insiders tell me that [Brett] Ratner since getting the Academy Awards producing gig has only been talking to one person: Eddie [Murphy]. It’s been along the lines of, “If the Academy asked you to host, would you accept?” I learned that Eddie is “showing interest”.

As Finke points out (and we agree), for Murphy to get this job would be a huge boost in a downward spiraling career. We can’t imagine Murphy’s agents letting him NOT accept the job if (and when) it’s offered to him.

The real question is whether the Academy will approve this choice for host, when there are much more prominent (and crowd-pleasing) opportunities out there, as hosting the Oscars is an opportunity akin to hosting SNL which few would turn down. That being said: do you think Murphy is likely to host? Or will a more prominent A-list actor or actress be hosting the Oscars come February 26?