Kevin Hart favored to be host of 2025 Oscars after Jimmy Kimmel stands down

After four times hosting the Oscars, late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel has announced that he won’t be hosting the ceremony in 2025. Who will take his place? Or can Kimmel be persuaded to have one more go? In our latest entertainment betting picks we look at the most likely candidates.

The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles is to host the 2025 Oscars on March 2nd
Four times host Jimmy Kimmel has announced he won’t be doing the role anymore
The search is on for a new host with speculation high it will be Kevin Hart

It may still be a long way off, but betting on the identity of the Oscars' host is big business. It’s almost a more popular market than betting on the actual winners of the Oscars.

Jimmy Kimmel has hosted the last two editions. He has hosted four in total. But Kimmel recently announced he won’t be hosting the 97th Academy Awards Ceremony.

The new host won’t be announced until Fall. And into the void comes speculation as to who it will be.

The favorite to host the 2025 edition is Kevin Hart. The comedian has previously distanced himself from ever doing the role, but that hasn’t prevented the best entertainment online betting sites from making him their favorite.

Hart's comments came in the past. At the time he wasn't likely to get the role and had not long stood down from hosting the event in 2019.

Things may have changed since.

Betting to host the 2025 Oscars

Okay, let’s take a look at the latest runners and riders to host the 97th edition of the Oscars.

There are two markets currently available. The first is whether there will be more than one Oscars host.

The event was last co-hosted in 2022, with Amy Schumer, Regina Hall, and Wanda Sykes sharing the duties.

In the betting to have more than one Oscars host in 2025, yes is +200, and no is -300.

Moving onto the identity of the host betting, the first thing to note is that it is a very open market. This suggests no one has a clue who it will be.

As things stand, Kevin Hart leads the betting on +500. He is closely followed by Amy Schumer on +600, with Jimmy Fallon, Jon Stewart, and Regina Hall at +800.

Outsiders are Jennifer Aniston, Louis CK, and Pete Holmes, at +2000. Full Oscars Betting Odds on the next host can be found below on our betting table.

2025 Oscars Host
Kevin Hart	+500	+500	+500
Amy Schumer	+600	+600	+600
Jon Stewart	+800	+800	+800
Jimmy Fallon	+800	+800	+800
Regina Hall	+800	+800	+800
Ellen DeGeneres	+1000	+1000	+1000
Ricky Gervais	+1000	+1000	+1000
Steve Martin	+1200	+1200	+1200
Bill Murray	+1200	+1200	+1200
Conan O'Brien	+1200	+1200	+1200
Jeff Ross	+1200	+1200	+1200
Adam Sandler	+1200	+1200	+1200
Trevor Noah	+1200	+1200	+1200
Wanda Sykes	+1200	+1200	+1200
Will Ferrell	+1200	+1200	+1200
Dave Chappelle	+1400	+1400	+1400
Eddie Izzard	+1400	+1400	+1400
Bill Burr	+1600	+1600	+1600
Howard Stern	+1600	+1600	+1600
Whoopi Goldberg	+1600	+1600	+1600
Jennifer Aniston	+2000	+2000	+2000
Louis CK	+2000	+2000	+2000
Pete Holmes	+2000	+2000	+2000

Kevin Hart +500

The bookmakers have installed Kevin Hart as their warm favorite. The reason is most probably due to his successful hosting of Tom Brady’s Netflix roast.

Hart has a history with the Oscars. He was due to host it in 2019 but was forced to step down after some of his previous social media activity became public.

That won’t have been forgotten. And unless the awards organizers and Hart himself are desperate for any kind of publicity, it won’t be happening any time soon.

We would steer clear of backing Hart.

Kevin Hart To host 2025 Oscars

+500

Bet Now!

Amy Schumer +600

2022 co-host Amy Schumer would have to be a better value bet than Hart.

The organizers of events like this can sometimes be happy to have a safe pair of hands rather than a host who lives on the edge.

Schumer did a good job - albeit with some support - when she did the gig back in 2022.

Don’t be surprised to see Schumer involved in some capacity when the next name is announced.

Amy Schumer To host 2025 Oscars

+600

Bet Now!

Steve Martin +1200

Steve Martin might be a bit of a yesterday’s man in the eyes of some. But if the event organizers are looking for a proverbial safe pair of hands, he might be the ideal choice.

Martin has hosted the event three times, the most recent time was alongside Alec Baldwin in 2010.

There is no chance of Baldwin getting the call again, but Steve Martin is undergoing a renaissance in his career thanks to his Only Murders in the Building hit comedy show.

At +1200, a bet on Steve Martin is certainly good value.

Steve Martin To host 2025 Oscars

+1200

Bet Now!

One to avoid

As funny as it was to watch Ricky Gervais host the Golden Globes in 2020, it wasn’t just the last time he will host the Globes, but the last time he will ever host any event of similar standing.

The British stand-up comedian didn’t just push his luck on the night, he threw it off the side of a cliff and then pushed a bus on top of it.

Endless insults aimed at the celebrities in the room made it uncomfortable to watch at times, and the biggest shock was probably Gervais making it to the end of his no-holds-barred resignation speech.

The Oscars will not want to give Gervais the chance to do something similar.

Gervais is +1000. With another two zeros on the end of his odds, he still wouldn’t be worth backing.