Conan O’Brien will be the host of the 97th Academy Awards Ceremony, as officially announced by the Academy a few days ago.

The Emmy-winning comedian will take the helm of the ceremony on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre, marking his first time as host. He humorously stated: “America asked for it, and now it’s happening: the new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme from Taco Bell. In other news, I’ll be hosting the Oscars.”

For its part, the Academy expressed: “We are excited and honored that the one and only Conan O’Brien will host the Oscars this year.”

It should be noted that Conan O’Brien’s selection to host this year’s Oscars came as a surprise, as his name was not among the frontrunners. There had been talk of a format featuring multiple hosts, with names like Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, and Jimmy Kimmel being more prominently mentioned. Although Conan has previously hosted the Emmys and the MTV Movie Awards, this will be his first time at the helm of the Oscars.