Comic star Eddie Murphy is emerging as the leading candidate to host the 84thAcademy Awards.

While Brett Ratner and Don Mischer, who are producing the upcoming awards broadcast, haven’t yet sat down with Academy officials to present the choice for hosting duties, Ratner, who has just finished directing Murphy in the upcoming comedy Tower Heist, is said to be keen on drafting the star to front the Oscar show, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Billy Crystal, who hosted the Oscars eight times between 1990 and 2004 and who took part in the most recent broadcast in a segment toasting Bob Hope, is another name that’s been circulating. Crystal himself has said he’d be interested in returning to host again, and he has a lot of fans in the Academy, who appreciate what he brought to past shows.