Neil Patrick Harris Will Host 2015 Oscars

Host extraordinaire Neil Patrick Harris, who has helmed the Tonys and Emmys in recent years, will be bringing his impish humor to the 87th annual Academy Awards next year. The actor, whose silver-screen credits include Gone Girl, A Million Ways to Die in the West and Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, will lead the award ceremony on February 22nd.

Harris announced the news via a video on MobyPicture (streaming below), in which he answers his cell phone and says, “I’m in.” The camera then scrolls down “NPH’s Bucket List,” written on a notepad. Items on it include, “Jump out of a plane,” “Move to NYC,” “Win a Tony Award” and “Sleep in Cinderella’s Castle,” among many others. All are crossed out except for the bottom item, “Host the Oscars,” which he circles.

The actor previously appeared on the Academy Awards in 2010 when he sang the show’s opening number, though he has never been nominated for an Oscar. Most recently, Harris won the Tony for his lead role in the Broadway production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. He’s also won four Emmys, though not for his role on How I Met Your Mother; he’s earned trophies for an appearance on Glee and three for his hosting duties on the Tonys.

This year’s Oscars host, Ellen DeGeneres, earned the broadcast its best ratings in a decade. Forty-three million people tuned in; the last time the broadcast earned that many viewers was in 2004 when Billy Crystal hosted and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King won Best Picture.