Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis Support Co-Star James Franco As Oscar

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Anne Hathaway and James Franco had been tapped to host the 83rd annual Academy Awards, but those reports never reached two of Franco's co-stars. That evening, at the red-carpet premiere for "Black Swan" in New York, MTV News asked Natalie Portman, who stars alongside Franco in the upcoming comedy "Your Highness," what she thought of the hosting news.

"I didn't hear about that!" she told us. "That's awesome. That's really cool." Earlier in the day, Franco's "Date Night" co-star Mila Kunis (who also happens to star with Portman in "Black Swan") stopped by the MTV Newsroom, and when we asked for her thoughts on the Oscar development, she too confessed she hadn't heard.

"What? That's awesome," she said. "I think they're going to do a great job." Both women will likely be on hand for the festivities, as "Black Swan" is a front-runner to nab nominations in a slew of categories, from Best Picture to Best Actress for Portman. There's even an outside chance Kunis could reel in a Best Supporting Actress nomination.

Franco, meanwhile, has been a leading contender for an acting nod based on his turn as a trapped hiker in "127 Hours." How his hosting duties will affect his chance of receiving a nomination and then winning the award is anyone's guess.

All Portman knows is that with Franco and Hathaway emceeing the ceremony, the 83rd Oscars should be a whole lot more entertaining than past versions of the show. "That'll be more fun to watch than usual," she said.