Chris Rock is back to host the Oscars

Turns out there was some truth to all that speculation yesterday about Chris Rock coming back to serve as Oscars host next year, as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed this morning that Rock is in fact their man for 2016.Rock previously hosted the 77th Oscars telecast in 2005.

“Chris may be best known as a stand-up comic, but we think of him as a creative innovator in many other ways. He is unafraid in his artistry,” said Academy CEO Dawn Hudson. “We couldn’t be happier to welcome him back to the Oscars.” Rock himself announced the news on Twitter, posting a promo photo of himself from his previous Oscar stintalong with the message, “Look who’s back.”

Rock’s selection comes after last year’s somewhat disappointing turn by Neil Patrick Harris. Presumably, this means audiences can expect more borderline-controversial humor on current topics and less belabored, runtime-extending magic tricks.

Follow Ned Ehrbar on Twitter: @nedrick