LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- This year, the Oscars are on Hugh Jackman's shoulders.

Hugh Jackman plans to offer viewers "a good time" at the Oscars. He hosts the big show Sunday night.

The Australian actor, who earned rave reviews for his hosting of the Tonys, now has the Academy Awards to contend with.

It's a job that's put Jon Stewart, Chris Rock, Whoopi Goldberg and David Letterman on the firing line, with only Billy Crystal and Johnny Carson emerging more or less unscathed in the last couple of decades.

But with typical verve -- after all, this is the guy who won a Tony for playing song-and-dance man Peter Allen in "The Boy from Oz" -- Jackman cracks jokes about the task, telling ABC that one of his distinctions is that he's the "tallest" Oscar host in recent years.

To CNN's Brooke Anderson, he was equally at ease. "Ultimately, the way I see it is if I'm not going to have a good time, then how can anyone else have a good time," he said.  Watch Hugh Jackman talk about doing it the Australian way »

Even if he's not having a good time, you may not want to get in his way. After all, this is the guy who's played the fearsome, sharp-clawed Wolverine in the "X-Men" movies and gets a solo turn as the superhero in the forthcoming "X-Men Origins: Wolverine."

Jackman talked with Anderson about musical numbers, Heath Ledger and performing "drunk and nude." The following is an edited version of the interview.

CNN: Are you feeling any nerves, or is it just pure excitement at this point?

Hugh Jackman: It's more, it is more excitement. I'm not impervious ... there has been moments in my life where I've been nervous going on stage, that's for sure, and I know I'll have a butterfly or two, cause yeah, you wanna have a couple. But ultimately, the way I see it is if I'm not going to have a good time, then how can anyone else have a good time. You know, you're the host -- it's not really about you. Ultimately, it's your job to set the tone.  Watch Hollywood prepare for the Oscars »

CNN: And the butterflies give you a little bit of adrenaline, I would expect.

Jackman: Yeah, and I'll be drinking from about 9 a.m., so that's why I'm impervious.

CNN: Now you're a triple threat [a dancer, actor and singer]. I need confirmation on a couple of things. Are you doing a musical number with Beyonce?

Jackman: Oh, that's a good question. Look, I'm old school, I don't want to give too much away. But I didn't fully deny it, did I? There's going to be some surprises, that's for sure.

CNN: Stars of "High School Musical" as well?

Jackman: OK, I'll give you that. Yes, they're going to be up on stage.

CNN: This is really a reinvention of the Oscars this year. The ratings have been low. Traditionally a comedian hosts the show. How do you feel about being part of the reinvention this year?

Jackman: I'm thrilled and honored, and that's honestly how I feel. I don't worry about the ratings or anything like that. I'm really excited by what is planned for the night, and I can tell you it's different. It really is different. I mean having someone as tall as me is a big change. ... It's really not going to be funny at all.

No, but there's so many things I love about what they're doing with the show. Forget ratings, you should always reinvent -- you should always be doing something different. What this night is going to be about is spontaneity.
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