Next year’s Academy Awards ceremony depends on People magazine’s sexiest man alive to introduce some frantically hunted magnificence into the much-awaited annual event.

Hugh Jackman, an Australian actor known for his Wolverine part in the “X-Men” movies, as well as for his role in Baz Luhrmann’s latest film, “Australia,” in which he plays alongside Nicole Kidman, will host the 81^st Oscar ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Friday.

The prizes will be handed out on February 22 by the Academy at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood and will be broadcast by the ABC network.

The producers of the Academy Awards explained that the selection of Hugh Jackman had various purposes, including passing up comedians. The event was recently hosted by famous television figures such as Jon Stewart and Ellen DeGeneres.

Laurence Mark, a co-producer of the Academy Awards telecast and Bill Condon, said that they wanted to approach film industry rather than turn to individuals who worked in different domains.

In addition, organizers have taken into account Hugh Jackman’s recently proclaimed title that should keep female viewers in front of the TV.

The 40-year-old actor, who hosted Broadway’s Tony Awards three times, has never received an Oscar nomination, in spite of the fact that he won critical acclaim for his performances in films like “The Prestige,” in which he played alongside Christian Bale, and “Kate & Leopold.”

He was awarded with a Tony in 2004 for his part in the musical “The Boy from Oz.”

Academy Awards nominations for the best films and performances of 2008 will be made public in January.