As Jimmy Kimmel prepares for his fourth round of hosting the Academy Awards, he’s hinting that his time as the face of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” may be coming to an end.

In an exclusive interview with the Los Angeles Times, the 56-year-old talk show host revealed that his current deal could be his last. “I think this is my final contract,” Kimmel said openly, expecting the skepticism his announcement would elicit. “I hate to even mention it because everyone’s laughing at me now — each time I think that, and then it turns out to not be the case.”

Celebrating the 21st anniversary of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” has inspired Kimmel to reflect. Despite the milestone, he sees the remaining two-plus years on his present contract as adequate. “I still have a little more than two years left on my contract, and that seems pretty good,” he told me. “That seems like enough.”

Kimmel is unsure of how he will spend his spare time after “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” as he considers a possible departure from late-night television. “It might not be anything that anyone other than me is aware of,” he said, revealing his broad interests, which include cooking, drawing, and even experimenting with sculpture.

Kimmel recognized his grandfather’s demise and the influence it had on him. Witnessing his grandfather’s unmet dreams made a lasting impression, prompting him to reflect on his own journey. “I know that when I ᴅɪᴇ, if I’m lucky enough to ᴅɪᴇ on my own terms in my own bed, I’m going to think, ‘Oh, I was never able to get to this, and I was never able to get to that,’” he shared. “I just know it about myself.”

As the renowned host prepares for the 2019 Academy Awards, the possibility that this will be his final contract adds an element of excitement to his fourth stay at the helm. Kimmel’s ability to smoothly switch between humor and earnestness in his late-night career is undeniable, and his forthcoming hosting gig might be a watershed moment as he navigates the probable end of this chapter.

While the specifics of Kimmel’s post-“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” initiatives are unknown, his forthright admissions regarding the expiration of his current contract allow viewers to consider the impact he may leave behind. As the countdown to the Academy Awards begins, Kimmel’s dual duties as host and probable career move take center stage, making the forthcoming Oscars presentation a highlight of the late-night luminary’s lengthy career.