'American Idol': Nigel Lythgoe Returns for Another Season (Report)

Nigel Lythgoe is returning to American Idol as executive producer following months of negotiations, E! News reports.

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Although Idol has yet to confirm the news, Lythgoe would resume his backstage role on the Fox competition for the upcoming 12th season.

He has a lot on his plate: in a judge exodus this summer, both Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler left the show after two years at the judges' table. Mariah Carey later signed on as a replacement -- but there's still vacancies alongside the over-the-top pop diva.

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According to E! News, citing a source, season 12 is "way behind normal schedule" and Lythgoe's first order of business is to "lock in judges."

Among the names being bandied about: Keith Urban, Enrique Iglesias and Nicki Minaj, whose potential Idol gig is causing a war to brew between Pepsi, for which she's a celebrity spokesperson, and Coke, the franchise's longtime sponsor.

As THR previously reported, Fox and FremantleMedia execs' wish list for a four-member panel includes Minaj, Carey, a country star (the leading candidate is Urban, an insider said) and a Latin artist (Iglesias is believed to be the No. 1 choice).

As for stalwart Randy Jackson, a judge since the beginning and Carey's co-manager, he's staying put on the show, but his role could be diminished, as others have reported.

Lythgoe, meanwhile, continues to dabble in multiple projects: earlier this week, he announced he's reviving the 1980 music-themed MGM movie Fame for TV. He'll serve as an executive producer there too. The project, which has yet to hire a writer as well as a cast, will be produced under the new MGM TV group banner.