Neil Patrick Harris to host 2015 Oscars ceremony

Neil Patrick Harris, the awards-show veteran who previously hosted the Tonys and the Emmys, is set to take on the Oscars next.

Harris will emcee the Academy Awards on Feb. 22, the Los Angeles Times confirmed after Variety first reported the news. The Academy sent out a statement later in the afternoon with the official announcement.

Harris, who stars in the murder-mystery thriller “Gone Girl,” has performed at the Oscars show before, but this will mark his first time as host.

Fans have long called for Harris to get the gig, but producers had previously shied away from hiring him, generally choosing a different host for each ceremony in recent years. Ellen DeGeneres emceed the 2014 Oscars, helping the show to a 14-year ratings high.

Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will produce this year’s show for the third year in a row. “We are thrilled to have Neil host the Oscars,” the pair said in the statement. “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.”

Harris added: “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 playfully hinted at the news with a social media video that had him preparing to check the item off a bucket list. He previously told The Times that he’d like to do just that.

“I would think hosting the Oscars would be a great bucket list check-off,” he said in an interview before the 2013 Tonys. He added: “I personally feel like the hosting chapters I’ve had in my past are an education for doing things in the future, as opposed to the ‘now I’m damaged goods’ kind of mentality.”

News of Harris’ appointment was well-received on social media. “Dreams do come true: Neil Patrick Harris hosting the Oscars is the PERFECT choice. Kudos, Academy. #Oscars2015,” wrote Twitter user @aabeene.

“Neil Patrick Harris at the Oscars is going to be legen — wait for it — dary,” said @mfinnerty21, borrowing one of Harris’ catch phrases from “How I Met Your Mother.”

Some folks were less enthusiastic, such as @willems_steph, who asked, “Dare I say it, but haven’t we had enough of Neil Patrick Harris? *ducks*”

Among those weighing in via social media was Seth MacFarlane, whose own performance as Oscar emcee in 2013 was polarizing, to say the least. MacFarlane tweeted, “Congratulations to my uber-talented pal @ActuallyNPH on hosting the Oscars! They could not have made a better choice, except Mickey Rourke.”

The 87th Academy Awards will air on ABC.

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