Eddie Murphy Exits Academy Awards?!

Following the rather unsurprising exit of Brett Ratner, the Academy has announced today that Eddie Murphy has left the production as well.

Murphy says. "First and foremost I want to say that I completely understand and support each party's decision with regard to a change of producers for this year's Academy Awards ceremony. I was truly looking forward to being a part of the show that our production team and writers were just starting to develop, but I'm sure that the new production team and host will do an equally great job."

I can't even imagine why Murphy would do this but whatever.  It's time for the academy to pick up the phone and call Conan.

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Academy Boots Ratner (or did he quit?)!

Here is an official statement from the Academy regarding Brett Rater:

Beverly Hills, CA – This morning, Brett Ratner submitted his resignation as a producer of the 84th annual Academy Awards to Academy President Tom Sherak. Ratner then issued an open letter to the entertainment industry in which he explained his decision.

"He did the right thing for the Academy and for himself," Sherak said. "Words have meaning, and they have consequences. Brett is a good person, but his comments were unacceptable. We all hope this will be an opportunity to raise awareness about the harm that is caused by reckless and insensitive remarks, regardless of the intent."

What do you think? Did they fire him and are they allowing Ratner to save face after this debacle?  Personally, I don't think he should ever have been a part of the production to begin with but that's neither here nor there.  Glad to see he's gone though.  But seriously, is anyone surprised?

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And the Oscar Host Is...

It's not 100% just yet but it's pretty likely that the next host of the Academy Awards will be Eddie Murphy.

It's an interesting choice that I can get behind.

I'm still not sold on this whole putting Brett Ratner in charge of the show thing though.

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Bad News

The latest movie on the remake block, besides The Birds, Friday the 13th, and Mary Poppins (just kidding on that last one), is the brilliant John Carpenter classic Escape From New York.

Yes, they are going to attempt to bring us a Snake Plissken other than Kurt Russell (rumor has Gerard Butler up for the roll). Impossible, I say. Even more so with the latest news.

The Director...you should sit down for this if you're a fan of this movie and might be looking

forward to a remake of it...really...sit.

The directing gig looks to be be going to the talentless Brett Ratner. Yes. The man who ruined the X-Men franchise will be putting his filthy hands all over Escape from NY. This frightens me and saddens me.

My faith in this project has evaporated.

Why does he get work? Why does he get these huge high profile movies? I don't understand.

The producers should just send this to the gallows.

I'd rather no movie at all than Brett Ratner's Escape from New York.

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