Andrea Mandell

USA TODAY

It's official: Jimmy Kimmel will host the Academy Awards next February.

Kimmel confirmed the news himself in a mid-day tweet. " Yes, I am hosting the Oscars. This is not a prank. And if it is, my revenge on @TheAcademy will be terrible & sweet," he wrote.

The Hollywood Reporterbroke the news Monday morning with an announcement from incoming producers Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd. The Associated Press confirmed Kimmel's appointment shortly after.

"I grew up with a little Johnny Carson as host, a lot with Billy Crystal, I loved the Ellen (DeGeneres) year and Steve Martin," De Luca told USA TODAY in early November, prior to Kimmel's hiring. "I like funny people who can riff and improv, throw out one-liners based on the evening's events. But I think if we had one word to describe how we want people to feel during the show, we want joy."

Kimmel, 49, is no stranger to hosting duties, having earned strong notices for his work hosting the Emmys this year (he also hosted the TV-centric show in 2012, and past hosted the American Music Awards and the ESPYs).

Hosting September's Emmys, the comedian "hit the mark right all night," wrote USA TODAY television critic Robert Bianco.

Robert Bianco: What the Emmys Awards got right and wrong

This will be Kimmel's first time hosting the Oscars.

Prior to taking the stage at this year's Emmys, Kimmel shared his roasting strategy. "I never want to hurt anybody’s feelings, but for the most part I think you know who can and can’t take it and that’s how you decide who gets it," he told USA TODAY. "You’re really penalized for being a good sport."

The pick is a neat marriage for ABC, which airs the Oscars. In August, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences struck a new deal with ABC to extend their broadcast agreement until 2028.

Chris Rock hosted the Oscars last year. The Academy Awards air Feb. 26.

The Academy did not immediately return a message from USA TODAY.

Contributing: The Associated Press