(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Brian Grazer is the new producer for the 84th Academy Awards, it was announced yesterday

He will replace Brett Ratner who stepped down from the post earlier this week after causing a furor with a homophobic slur he made over the weekend.

ABC announced that Brian will work with producer Don Mischer on the prestigious telecast.

"It's very gratifying to be part of a show that honours excellence in the medium to which I have devoted so much of my career," Brian said in a statement.

The 60-year-old was praised by the Academy's President, Tom Sherak.

"Brian is a renowned filmmaker who, over the past 25 years, has produced a diverse and extraordinary body of work," he said. "He will certainly bring his tremendous talent, creativity and relationships to the Oscars."

Brian more recently was a producer for the Brett-directed movie Tower Heist.

Brett resigned from the Oscars position after receiving lots of negative press for comments he made.

He said that "rehearsing is for f**s" and also gave intimate details about his alleged sexual relationship with actress Olivia Munn during an interview with shock jock radio host Howard Stern.

Brett has since apologised for his actions saying that although being asked to produce the Oscars was the highlight of his career, he did not want to become a distraction to the annual event. (C) Cover Media