Better late than never...
From Buster Keaton to Tom Cruise's relentless pursuit of evading mortality in each new project. Mission: Impossible movie via Gareth Evans’ breathtaking The Raid A diptych, along with stuntwork and stunt performers, has been an essential component of filmmaking from the very beginning.
Now, following decades of passionate appeals for an Oscar acknowledging the craft of stunts, the Academy has opted to present an official award for it.
A new award for outstanding achievement in stunt design will be introduced beginning with the 100th Academy Awards, honoring movies released in 2027.
From the very beginning of film history, stunt designing has played a crucial role in movie production," stated both Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang together. "It gives us great pleasure to recognize the groundbreaking efforts of these skilled technicians and creatives, and we applaud their unwavering commitment and passion as they reach this significant milestone.
David Leitch, who directed The Fall Guy , which served as an homage to stunt performers, played a key role in initiating the push for the new award.
Leitch started his career as a stunt performer for celebrities such as Brad Pitt before moving on to direct movies featuring plenty of stunts. John Wick He and Chris O'Hara, the stunt coordinator and designer from Stunts Unlimited, presented to the academy to advocate for the introduction of a new award category.
Stuntwork plays an indispensable role across all genres of cinema and has strong roots within our industry’s heritage—from the pioneering efforts of legends such as Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, and Charlie Chaplin—to the awe-inspiring craftsmanship of contemporary stunt creators, directors, artists, and performers,” stated Leitch. "For many years, Chris O'Hara and I have been dedicated to bringing this achievement into reality, building upon the hard-fought endeavors of these talented stunt experts who have long sought acknowledgment. We feel deeply appreciative.
So are we, despite other award shows being pioneers in recognizing stunt work.
For instance, the Emmy Awards celebrate stunt coordination and individual stunt performances, whereas the Screen Actors Guild Awards acknowledge outstanding ensemble stunts in both TV shows and movies.
Chad Stahelski, who co-directed John Wick And despite having performed stunts for Keanu Reeves, he mentioned that there's still more work to be done.
“I completely agree with the concept of introducing an Oscar for stunt coordination; please understand my enthusiasm,” he stated. “However, now I’m curious about how they will determine who receives this accolade and ultimately wins the award? Unlike 100 years back where a single individual handled these tasks, today it involves teamwork.”
Stahelski commented further: "The stunts sector is highly cooperative and intricate. How do we decide where this should be attributed? Since we've been striving for recognition in this field for a century, let's ensure it gets credited appropriately."
Well, Stahelski, Cruise, and the entire crew behind it Mad Max: Fury Road Cast your ballots for the late-in-life awards. Let's begin with those.