Staring in 2028, the Academy Awards will feature a new category dedicated to celebrating stunt performers and coordinators working on countless Hollywood movies.
On April 10, as reported by Variety, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced in a formal letter the creation of a new “Achievement in Stunt Design” award. The specific rules and criteria for the award will be announced in 2027. Films released that year will be eligible for the award at the 2028 Oscars.
“Since the early days of cinema, stunt design has been an integral part of filmmaking,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang. “We are proud to honor the innovative work of these technical and creative artists, and we congratulate them for their commitment and dedication in reaching this momentous occasion.”
For many years now, individuals in the film industry, like Deadpool 2 and The Fall Guy director David Leitch, have been pushing the Academy to introduce a stunt person category. Leitch and stunt coordinator and designer Chris O’Hara of Stunts Unlimited, as well as others, have made numerous presentations to the Academy’s Board of Governors.
“Stunts are essential to every genre of film,” said Leitch via a statement to Variety. “[Stunts are] rooted deep in our industry’s history—from the groundbreaking work of early pioneers like Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, and Charlie Chaplin, to the inspiring artistry of today’s stunt designers, coordinators, performers, and choreographers.”
“This has been a long journey for so many of us. Chris O’Hara and I have spent years working to bring this moment to life, standing on the shoulders of the stunt professionals who’ve fought tirelessly for recognition over the decades. We are incredibly grateful. Thank you, Academy.”
This isn’t the only new category to be added to the Academy Awards in recent years. In 2024, the organization announced the addition of the “Achievement in Casting” award, which will be presented for the first time at next year’s ceremony.
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