Brett Ratner and Don Mischer to Produce the 84th Academy Awards

Variety has the breaking news:

Don Mischer and Brett Ratner are producing the 84th Academy Awards, the academy announced.

For Ratner, director of the "Rush Hour" trilogy, it will be his first involvement with the Oscars telecast. He'll have the aid of Mischer, who's producing and directing for the second year in a row.

The Academy Awards will be held on Feb. 26, 2012 at the Kodak Theater.

"I was so impressed with Brett when I met with him to discuss the Oscar show," said Sherak, who announced the hiring Thurday. "He has an incredible love of film and its history and is a true student of the business of movies."

Thoughts?

Here are some key dates for the 84th Academy Awards!

Behold:


Thursday, December 1, 2011: Official Screen Credits forms due
Tuesday, December 27, 2011: Nominations ballots mailed
Friday, January 13, 2012: Nominations polls close 5 p.m. PT
Tuesday, January 24, 2012: Nominations announced 5:30 a.m. PT,
Samuel Goldwyn Theater
Wednesday, February 1, 2012: Final ballots mailed
Monday, February 6, 2012: Nominees Luncheon
Saturday, February 11, 2012: Scientific and Technical Awards presentation
Tuesday, February 21, 2012: Final polls close 5 p.m. PT
Sunday, February 26, 2012: 84th Academy Awards presentation

-Joey's Two Cents: Well now we know...thoughts?

What could some of the next Oscar contenders be?

Well, we'll have official Awards Circuit looks at what the potentially baity films could be soon, but for now, The Envelope takes a look at 10 flicks that might be Best Picture hopefuls:

Are you as burned out on 2010's Oscar season as we are? If so, take a look into the future to see who we are going to be tired of by next February. We've compiled a completely arbitrary -- but intriguing -- list of what films could be making it to the winner's circle in 2012. Feel free to chime in with your predictions because, really, this time next year we will all likely have been proved wrong.

(Please note: these are in no particular order.)