Hugh Jackman Not Repeating Oscars Hosting Gig

There won't be a singing and dancing Hugh Jackman on the stage of the 82nd Annual Academy Awards. Variety has just come up with the story that the star of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" has passed on the chance to once again host the Oscars despite the fact that he has earned praises for his gig at the show this year.

41-year-old Jackman has quietly turned down the job within the past few weeks, so claimed sources. Although the actor who is currently starring opposite Daniel Craig in Broadway play "A Steady Rain" is said unwilling to do the show two years in a row, he could be returning to his hosting duty again in the future.

The 82nd Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, March 7, 2010. Its gala ceremony is set to be aired live by ABC Television Network with Bill Mechanic and Adam Shankman serving as producers. The Academy had previously announced that 2010 Oscars will see 10 nominees instead of the usual 5 for Best Picture category. Nominees for the prestigious award will be made public on February 2, 2010.

Hugh Jackman had been added to the list of Oscars hosts that included Jon Stewart, Ellen DeGeneres and Chris Rock when he took the job of hosting the 81st Annual Academy Awards. Opening the February 22 show with a tribute to 2008 movies, the co-star of Nicole Kidman in "Australia" was later joined by Beyonce Knowles, Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and many others in another musical set.