Cross-Eyed Opossum At 2011 Oscars? Heidi Asked To Join Academy Awards Ceremony (VIDEO)

What do James Franco, Anne Hathaway, and a cross-eyed opossum have in common? Franco and Hathaway are the confirmed co-hosts of the 2011 Academy Awards, but reports are now surfacing that ABC has requested Heidi, the now infamous cross-eyed opossum, to appear on their show as well.

The animal from Germany became internationally renowned after photos were published of her this past December, and she now has over 285,000 Facebook fans.

The Today Show reports that ABC contacted the director of Leipzig Zoo, requesting Heidi's presence at the February 27th ceremony. According to The Telegraph, the opossum may have even been asked to co-host the event.

According to Reuters, if Heidi does appear, she will probably only be seen through a video link, to avoid upsetting the animal. The zoo has reportedly in the past tried to treat Heidi like the other animals, and shield her from marketing ploys.

It is suggested that Heidi's eyes are crossed due to a poor diet when she was young, which caused fat deposits to form behind her eyes. She is now on a diet, with the hope that her eyes may even return back to normal.

If her eyes do return to normal, will her fame remain? Edmund Haferbeck, an animal expert with the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals feels that famous animals do not benefit from their celebrity status: "These animals are put on show for millions of people, but afterward they remain incurably crippled."

It is also unclear how two major celebrity actors will feel about sharing the spotlight with a marsupial.

WATCH this cross-eyed opossum:

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Comments

[LALC]

01:01 AM on 02/06/2011

I love Heidi! If she co-hosts, I'm definitely watching

[mudshark12]

08:06 PM on 02/05/2011

Heidi, the now infamous cross-eyed opossum will appear on at the Oscars for comic relief? ABC is clutching at straws for ANYTHING to make the Academy Awards ceremony more entertaining.

[NHGranite]

04:50 PM on 02/05/2011

What? They both went to Yale?

[MEDASI]

05:09 PM on 02/04/2011

so 'cause its an animal we can make fun of him or her? Ya'll bad!!

[ilaughtilicried]

08:26 AM on 02/04/2011

Go to HP Style section and select a vintage outfit for Heidi's debut.

[ilaughtilicried]

07:37 AM on 02/04/2011

I totally love Heidi. She could come with me to WW and we could loose together. Or fail, which is the usual pathway! Seriously co-hosting at the Oscars would be a riot, but does that fur make her look fat. And you know the cross eyed thing needs to be balanced by a smooth sleek outfit, maybe Von Furstenberg. LOL, the Austrian connection.

[Fudgefase]

06:39 AM on 02/04/2011

Phew! For a minute there I thought it was to do with a sex tape....

[ElBruce]

05:32 AM on 02/04/2011

Suggested introduction: "and now a word from Michele Bachmann..."

[Ladleman909]

04:26 AM on 02/04/2011

"James Franco....best actor for the movie, Howl!"

[LMPE]

12:47 AM on 02/04/2011

that would be mission im-possum-ble

[Slight Return]

12:10 AM on 02/04/2011

No wonder they are always getting hit by cars, they can't see straight !

[BannedInBoston]

12:02 AM on 02/04/2011

"Ha, ha! I was only pretending to be dead! But seriously, folks...."

[Jigstheman]

11:08 PM on 02/03/2011

"Heidi will not be appearing in person" - I would hope not

[lw1]

11:40 PM on 02/03/2011

I was worried about that - thanks!

[KenMoore]

12:44 AM on 02/04/2011

She won't be appearing in 'possum, either.

[coastalcarla]

11:05 PM on 02/03/2011

He looks just like the little critter that lives under my tool shed. We call him Percy.

[DJlaysitup]

11:27 PM on 02/03/2011

LOL - I put a little dry food out for the stray cats in the evening. Sometimes the coolest possum you ever saw comes along for a bite. I guess I should give it a name.

[InedaName]

10:55 PM on 02/03/2011

Yes, yes, yes, but who will Heidi be wearing on the red carpet?

[Gladys1963]

11:16 PM on 02/03/2011

Glasses?