Will Eddie Murphy host the Academy Awards?

Comedian Eddie Murphy may be the front-runner to host the live telecast of the 84th Annual Academy Awards, set for Feb. 26.

Following a premature announcement Saturday by the urban-comedy website HumorMillMag.com that Murphy was a done deal, the industry site Deadline.com reported that filmmaker Brett Ratner -- who is producing the Oscars show with veteran Don Mischer -- is scheduled to meet Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences president Tom Sherak Tuesday to pitch Murphy as host.

Murphy, 50 -- who was nominated for a supporting actor Oscar for "Dreamgirls" (2006) but whose best-known work for a decade has been as the voice of Donkey in the "Shrek" films and TV specials -- co-stars with Ben Stiller in Ratner's "Tower Heist," due out Nov. 4. His long-shelved comedic drama "A Thousand Words," directed by Brian Robbins, who helmed the Murphy flops "Norbit" (2007) and "Meet Dave" (2008), is scheduled for Jan. 13.

The trade magazine The Hollywood Reporter Sunday said the academy had hoped to choose a host by mid-September, and that eight-time host Billy Crystal -- like Murphy, a "Saturday Night Live" alumnus -- has expressed interest in hosting the upcoming Oscars.

The magazine and the Los Angeles Times each said academy officials were not immediately available for comment during the weekend. Murphy's publicist did not respond to a Newsday request for comment Sunday.

Another name being discussed, said the Los Angeles Times, was comedian Jerry Seinfeld.

This would be Murphy's first time hosting the Academy Awards. He hosted the MTV Video Music Awards in 1985 and the MTV Movie Awards in 1993.