Neil Patrick Harris has announced that he will host the 2015 Oscars via Twitter, accompanied by a press release by the Academy.

Neil Patrick Harris To Host 87th Academy Awards

“It is truly an honor and a thrill to be asked to host this year’s Academy Awards. I grew up watching the Oscars and was always in such awe of some of the greats who hosted the show. To be asked to follow in the footsteps of Johnny Carson, Billy Crystal, Ellen DeGeneres, and everyone else who had the great fortune of hosting is a bucket list dream come true,” Harris said in a statement.

In his video announcing the news, Harris crossed out “Host the Oscars” at the bottom of a bucket list that included “Have Children” and “Sleep in Cinderella’s Castle.”

“We are thrilled to have Neil host the Oscars. We have known him his entire adult life, and we have watched him explode as a great performer in feature films, television and stage. To work with him on the Oscars is the perfect storm, all of his resources and talent coming together on a global stage,” said Oscar producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.

Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs was equally enthusiastic in her statement, saying, “We share Craig and Neil’s excitement in welcoming the incredibly talented Neil Patrick Harris. He is the consummate entertainer. Neil’s distinctive charm and showmanship make him the ideal host to honor the Oscar legacy and ensure we all enjoy another unforgettable celebration.”

The news comes as no surprise to fans, which have watched Harris host almost every major awards show for years. Harris even opened the 2010 Oscars with a musical number, though Adam Baldwin and Steve Martin hosted the show.

In 2013, Harris successfully hosted both the Tony Awards and the Emmys, but he took a break from his hosting duties in 2014 to star on Broadway in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Instead of acting as host, Harris attended the 2014 Tony Awards as a nominee and left a winner.

The 87th Oscars will air Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, on ABC.

Celebs Congratulate NPH On Twitter

Article by Olivia Truffaut-Wong

Olivia Truffaut-Wong was born and raised in Berkeley, California, where she developed her love of all things entertainment. After moving to New York City to earn her degree in Film Studies, she stayed on the East Coast to follow her passion and become an entertainment writer. She lives on a diet of television, movies and food.