It's out with the comedy monologues, in with the berserker rages after Hugh Jackman was today confirmed as the host of the 81st Academy Awards ceremony.

Yes, you read that right. Hugh Jackman - Wolverine himself - will follow in the footsteps of Billy Crystal, Steve Martin, Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Rock, Bob Hope, Jon Stewart et al when he presents the Oscars on February 22.

The decision is not as leftfield as it first appears - Jackman hosted the Tony Awards in 2005, and by all accounts did a fantastic job, even bagging a Tony nomination for it the following year.

But by hiring an actor - even a renowned song-and-dance man like Jackman - the Academy has signalled its intent to move in a different direction, with new producers, set designer and music director all on board already.