Jimmy Kimmel has played his part as the Oscars' safety net, making sure no one wakes up too pissed off the next day in Hollywood. And especially after the past few controversial ceremonies, this was probably just what the Oscars needed, at least, until it came back on track again. However, following the backlash the talk show host received for his ‘politically correct’ hosting, which many found dull, Kimmel has officially decided to leave his Oscar hosting days behind and bow out gracefully.

This opens up a lot of speculation about who should be the Academy's next best option. Will it be the return of a seasoned host, or a fresh face debuting at the 2025 Oscars?

Ricky Gervais is obviously a funny man with a great track record at the Golden Globes. However, he is most famous for his reputation of harsh humor, which often does not align with Hollywood elites. For the common man, though, the unapologetically honest jabs of Gervais have always been a hit. But there is one major issue that might put the brakes on his chances of hosting the 2025 Oscars. 

Ricky Gervais has created a lot of controversy with his alleged homophobic jokes, something that the Academy has no patience for. Back in 2018, Kevin Hart was forced to step down from hosting the 91st Academy Awards due to some homophobic jokes he made years before, for which the Jumanji actor even apologized. Therefore, hiring Gervais can be deemed a hypocritical decision by many.

Compared to Ricky Gervais, John Oliver is pretty mild, and rarely has ever gone too far with a joke. His satirical news show, Last Week Tonight, has earned him a lot of praise. While his dry European wit, combined with some light-hearted mockery to expose absurdities, might resonate with the Oscar audience, there is still one major reason why Oliver believes he could never host the Oscars.

Oliver has often criticized celebrity culture, especially Hollywood. On Late Night with Seth Meyers, the comedian admitted that he could never mask his “visible contempt” for the glitzy world at the Oscars and would likely openly criticize the legitimacy of Hollywood’s biggest night. Not that Oscars hosts have not done that before, but Oliver’s principles would likely keep him from taking up the gig.

Graham Norton is one of the most cherished chat show hosts around. He has also been a regular host of The British Academy Television Awards for almost two decades. What makes him stand out from the crowd, according to popular belief, is Norton’s ability to create a relaxed atmosphere for his guests. He also avoids laying down ideological or political views that might drown the fun. 

Norton also has an amazing team of researchers who dig up even the most obscure tidbits, which could help patch up any damage done by Jimmy Kimmel's "unfunny" monologue at the previous Oscars. On top of that, his outspoken criticism of the 2022 Oscars and Will Smith’s actions might just earn him some brownie points and open the door to hosting the next Academy Awards.

Colin Jost is probably one of the most polarizing comedians out there. While he is adored by some extremely powerful people, he is also known to be kind of dull without the conviction of owning his abrasiveness. But love him or hate him, one surely cannot ignore him. Jost has been a staff writer for the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live for almost two decades.

Jost has also tried his hands at hosting award functions, as was seen when he joined forces with his partner-in-crime Michael Che at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards. However, much like John Oliver, Jost is not a huge fan of award shows. During a Los Angeles Times interview back in 2018, the comedian criticized awards shows, saying, "At the end of the day, it's adults getting trophies". 

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Given Jost's sentiments about award shows, there is a chance he might pass on the opportunity to host the 2025 Oscars. While Scarlett Johansson's husband might not, her ex-husband may, along with his Hollywood pal.

It is no secret that Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are a dynamic duo. Whether it is in cinema, award shows, social media banter, or interviews, whenever these two team up, the magic practically writes itself. Especially after seeing their chemistry in Deadpool & Wolverine, the demand for this pair has only grown. This could be a real game-changer for the Academy when it comes to drawing in viewers.

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman recently gave fans a taste of their hosting chops on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. Since then, fans have been daydreaming about what it would be like to see them hosting the 2025 Oscars as well. Although there has been no official word yet, obviously, this hosting duo would undoubtedly be the stuff of legends.

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What do you think about the potential hosts for 2025 Oscars? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!