The 'How I Met Your Mother' star has been recently declared the host for the 87th Academy Awards but the producers first approached DeGeneres, who has hosted the ceremony twice (2007 and 2014), according to Hollywood Reporter.
DeGeneres was apparently not interested to do it for the third time. Next on the wish list reportedly was Chris Rock, with whom DeGeneres shares ICM Partners agent Eddy Yablans, but a deal failed to materialise.
Producers then expressed interest in Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who also said no, after which Harris was finalised.