A combination file photograph of actress Anne Hathaway and actor James Franco (R) taken November 4, 2010 and September 13, 2007 respectively. Hathaway and Franco have been named co-hosts of the film industry's upcoming Academy Awards. - Photo by Reuters

LOS ANGELES: Actors James Franco and Anne Hathaway will co-host the 83rd Academy Awards in February, the producers of the Oscars show announced Monday.

Franco, star of Danny Boyle's latest movie “127 Hours” and whose previous credits include “Eat, Pray, Love,” “Date Night” and Harry Osborn in the “Spider Man” trilogy, will be making his second Oscars telecast.

Hathaway, on her fifth appearance when she takes the stage on February 27, is currently in “Love and Other Drugs,” and was nominated for an Oscar in 2008 for her lead performance in “Rachel Getting Married.” James Franco and Anne Hathaway personify the next generation of Hollywood icons – fresh, exciting and multi-talented,” said telecast producers Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer.

“We hope to create an Oscars broadcast that will both showcase their incredible talents and entertain the world” when stars and industry chiefs gather for the show at Hollywood's Kodak Theater.

Last year the annual show was hosted by veteran funnyman Steve Martin and actor Alec Baldwin, while Australian heart-throb Hugh Jackman was a surprise choice in 2009.

Jackman's choice broke with a long-held tradition of having comedians or comic actors as hosts. –AFP