Russell Brand Hosts 2012 MTV MOVIE AWARDS Tonight, 6/3

MTV previously announced that comedian, actor and TV personality Russell Brand will take the MTV MOVIE AWARDS stage for the first time as host when the show airs live tonight, June 3rd at 9 pm ET/PT on MTV from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California. Brand will build upon his triple-threat skill set to give viewers a new, off-the-cuff and unique spin on the past year’s biggest films and hottest stars.

“This MTV Movie Awards will be more impressive than The Avengers and you won't have to wait an hour for someone to Hulk out,” said Russell Brand.

“With his amazing ability to span the full spectrum of comedy from the most high to lowbrow, Russell’s smart, unpredictable wit uniquely connects him to our audience,” said Stephen Friedman, President of MTV. “His rock-n-roll sensibility and fearlessness give us the perfect partner with whom to take a leap of faith with as we meld the worlds of movies and music together on one very special night.”

In 2008, Brand burst onto the US-scene as host of the “MTV Video Music Awards,” which he again hosted the following year. Since then, his career has taken off to include starring roles in films such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek, Despicable Me, Arthur and the upcoming Rock of Ages. In addition, Brand will soon headline a series of six half-hour late-night comedy specials that will be filmed in front of a live audience on the FX network.

Brand joins the ranks of past hosts such as Jason Sudeikis, Aziz Ansari, Andy Samberg, Ben Stiller, Jimmy Fallon, Mike Myers, Sarah Silverman and Justin Timberlake.

Fusing the MTV’s musical core with the wonder and amazement of the comedy, drama, adventure and mystery inherent to the movie-going experience, the “2012 MTV Movie Awards” will continue its tradition as one of the most outrageous and distinctive televised award shows, while putting the spotlight on the most diverse roster of nominated films in years for the show.

Featuring a broad array of movies that resonated with the MTV audience this year, this year’s nominees include both blockbusters and critically acclaimed films such as “Drive,” “Like Crazy,” “The Descendants,” “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” and “My Week with Marilyn.” MTV fans hold the “Power of the Popcorn” awards in their hands with voting available online via MovieAwards.MTV.com through Saturday, June 2nd. As always, voting for “Movie of the Year” will remain open throughout the live show on Sunday, June 3rd.