Jimmy Kimmel and John Mulaney pass on hosting 2025 Oscars, leaving search for new emcee open

The 97th Academy Awards will be held on March 2nd, 2025, but the search for a host continues as both Jimmy Kimmel and John Mulaney have declined the opportunity.

Kimmel, a seasoned Oscars host with four ceremonies under his belt, chose not to return for the 2025 event as per source to PEOPLE. Mulaney, who recently hosted the Academy's 14th Governors Awards and received praise from Kevin Costner for his humorous tribute during the 2024 ceremony, was also approached but had to decline due to scheduling conflicts.   

This leaves the Oscars without a confirmed host, marking a return to the host-less format previously seen between 2019 and 2021. The 2022 ceremony featured Regina Hall, Wanda Sykes, and Amy Schumer as hosts, while Kimmel returned to emcee the 2023 and 2024 ceremonies. Notably, Kimmel's 2024 hosting gig garnered the highest ratings for the telecast in four years, with 19.5 million viewers tuning in.   

The Academy Awards, which will be broadcast live from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, now faces the challenge of finding a new emcee who can capture the audience's attention and deliver an entertaining and memorable show.