Steve Martin has addressed whether he’ll return to host The Academy Awards for a fourth time, discussing the lack of financial reward for taking on the prestigious role.
The actor claimed the Oscars “don’t pay” when asked in a new interview whether he’d take the helm, following the news that Jimmy Kimmel has turned down the 2025 event.
The 79-year-old first hosted back in 2001 and again in 2003, before sharing the job with Alec Baldwin 14 years ago.
However, despite saying he was “not nervous at all” during the 2010 ceremony, Martin confirmed if he would turn down any offer if it came about.
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The Father Of The Bride favorite said organizers “should pay” like The Golden Globes do, as the role takes “at least several months of mental churning.”
Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Martin was asked whether he’d join forces with Only Murders in the Building co-star Martin Short, after likening their working relationship to the one he had with Baldwin.
“That represents so much work for us,” he said. “And we love our summers. When I hosted before, I started working months ahead of time.
“And now I have a completely different life. I’m not as free. It’s a lot of work and we’re working.”
When pushed on if that was a no, he confirmed before sharing an Oscars joke he hadn’t used.
He continued: “I always think it’s funny. I’ll come out and say, ‘I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, ‘Steve, how did you get to host the Oscars?’ It was easy. I just called my agent and I said, ‘Get me something thankless.'”
When the interviewer remarked on the Oscars’ “trouble” finding someone to present arguably the biggest night in Hollywood, Martin remarked on what the host takes home.
He said: “They don’t pay, either. The Golden Globes pay, so they get Tina Fey and Amy [Poehler]. And Ricky Gervais. The Oscars should pay.”
Kimmel, who has hosted the ceremony four times—2017, 2018, 2023 and 2024— previously went into detail about his pay check with 2022 host Wanda Sykes on his self-titled show.
He said he took home $15,000, as his 60-year-old guest told him: “I realized that out of all the jobs that I have, this one is actually gonna cost me money.”
Martin added that The Academy “have not asked” him to return, as the spot remains vacant following Kimmel’s departure.
Newsweek has contacted Steve Martin and The Academy via email for comment.
Kimmel previously explained why he said no to a fifth turn on the Politickin’ podcast, stating: “It’s hard and it’s a lot of work and the show suffers a little bit to be honest.
“When I’m focused on the Oscars, I’m less focused on the show.”