Brian Grazer to Replace Brett Ratner As Oscar Producer

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 05: LACMA trustee Brian Grazer attends LACMA Art + Film Gala Honoring Clint Eastwood and John Baldessari Presented By Gucci at Los Angeles County Museum of Art on November 5, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for LACMA)
Brian Grazer. Photo: John Shearer/2011 Getty Images

Another hour, another new development in this week’s flurry of Oscar news: Now, Deadline is reporting that Brian Grazer is a done deal to replace Brett Ratner as the producer of the 84th Academy Awards. Grazer has ties to both Ratner and departing Oscar host Eddie Murphy, as he produced their latest film Tower Heist; in fact, Deadline says that the Academy is hoping that Grazer can entice Murphy to return to the fold. Still, Grazer has already put out calls to talent agencies to see what A-listers might be available to host if Murphy can’t be convinced to come back. The pick of Grazer should go a long way to quell Academy concerns: He’s one of the most successful, well-respected figures in Hollywood, and unlike Ratner, he’s actually a bona fide Oscar winner to boot.

Brian Grazer to Replace Brett Ratner As Oscar Producer