Billy Crystal has Oscar Fever: Host Stars in Academy's First Promo [VIDEO]

Billy Crystal, Oscar host, is in Mongolia.

At least, that's what the first promo from the Academy of Motion picture Arts and Sciences wants you to believe.

In the video, made in conjunction with the folks from Funny Or Die, Josh Duhamel and Megan Fox are on the great search for Crystal, who went off the grid some time ago.

In true Hollywood style, the promo plays out like a trailer for a dramatic thriller, complete with flashbacks, wolf calls and intense music.

Some say, he doesn't want to be found. Others say he died 10 years ago. If you ask me, that's a lot of cuckoo talk, a rower says at one point.

When Duhamel and Fox finally find Crystal, he is barely recognizable, thanks to his long hair and cloak.

We wanted to try something a little bit different this year instead of a traditional, clip-based piece . . . the trailer has a fun twist that conveys how excited everyone is to have Billy back, Academy Chief Marketing Office Christina Kounelias said in a statement Thursday.

We think the trailer really speaks to the excitement around this year's Oscars, and Funyn Or Die was honored to be a part of it, Funny Or Die president of production Mike Farah added.

Crystal, who has hosted the Oscars eight times, joined the 2012 production in November, after the sudden departure of Eddie Murphy and Brett Ratner, who were originally named host and producer, respectively.

Ratner resigned as producer of the glitzy award show after he was slammed for making an anti-gay slur comment during a Q&A session for Tower Heist. His disastrous week continued when he appeared on The Howard Stern Show and discussed his sex life in great detail.

Murphy bowed out some 24 hours later, just as the Academy was naming Brian Grazer as the new producer.

I was truly looking forward to being a part of the show that our own production team and writers were just starting to develop, but I'm sure that the new production team and host will do an equally great job, Murphy said at the time.

All eyes will be on Crystal, 63, when he takes the stage on Feb. 26. The Academy will also depend on the legendary actor and comedian for a boost in ratings. Last year's show, hosted by James Franco and Anne Hathaway, attracted only 37.6 million tuning in worldwide, down by 12 percent from the year before.

Nominations for the 84th annual Academy Awards will be announced on Jan. 24. The telecast will air on Feb. 26.

Scroll down to watch Billy Crystal in the first Oscar promo of the year.