Stunts (Finally) Get Their Day At The Oscars In 2027
Stunt professionals are finally going to get their day at the Oscars as of Thursday.
According to Deadline’s Pete Hammond, a new category has been created by the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced for the Achievement in Stunt Design. This will reportedly commence with the 100th installment Academy Awards® for films released in 2027.
“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.”
The move comes a year after Stunts Unlimited President, veteran stunt coordinator and second unit director Chris O’Hara was venerated with the title of stunt designer, a first in Hollywood film history, ahead of the release of David Leitch’s action comedy, The Fall Guy, on which he coordinated stunts. The team also partook in the film’s promotion via its red carpet last year for the Universal release, with their stunt work also featured in Peacock streaming documentary, Action.
Gosling, who stars in The Fall Guy, made his case at the explosive red carpet event in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter in defense of the stunt industry’s push toward Oscar recognition:
“Obviously this a love letter to the stunt community, they are the hardest-working people in show business. They risk more than anyone. This movie is just a giant campaign to get stunts an Oscar.”
This is a long-awaited milestone for many in the stunt industry who’ve protested and made their voices heard. Stunt professionals take on multiple facets of film in their creative endeavors, whether behind the lens or prominently in front, crafting spectacular stunt sequences to compel audiences. Films like Mad Max: Fury Road and John Wick: Chapter 4, Universal’s The Fast Saga, pretty much every Marvel and DC movie in the past fifteen years, and pretty much every Hollywood blockbuster of the last fifty years featuring the biggest names in kickass action are some of the biggest core examples where stunts are heavily featured.
Independent action cinema has also proven to be beneficial when it comes to aspiring stunt professionals plying their trade, particularly by the turn of the century. Teams and small firms like Zero Gravity, The Stunt People, SG Action, Kamen Ramen, Eclipse Stunts, Whirlwind Action, Dragon Phoenix Entertainment, Martial Club, Reel Deal Action, Art School Dropouts, SG Action, YoungMasters, Rising Tiger Films, Phoenix Eye Films, Fideo Films, Team Red Pro, and Jabronie Pictures are just a fraction of the people that make up the stunt multiphenates the world over, covered by sites like this one.
I started The Hit List in late 2014 and, in its own little way, helped bring some more – and much needed – notoriety to stunt players. I kept it running for five years until social media became more practical for folks to feature their own stuff without the hassles of YouTube, which has been humbling to say the least. For that matter, it’s also been motivating to see other websites pick up stunt professionals time and again, from local news outlets to online magazines.
As it stands, stunt performers do have some annual award shows of their own, be it the Taurus World Stunt Awards which debuted its commitee a year before its first ceremony in 2001, or events like the SAG Awards for film and TV and the Action On Film festival which is held annually varying in different parts of California as of 2004. Even Vulture has its own virtual Stunt ceremony shepherded by critics and readers all voting for their favorites in several categories. This year’s edition acknowledged highlights in hit films ranging from road-raging adventure thriller Furiosa to slapstick oddity Hundreds Of Beavers, to the pulse-pounding martial arts actioner, Life After Fighting.
At long last though, it feels damn good to see these people finally getting their just dues by The Academy. I’m proud to have cheered from the stands for these people for as long as I’ve been writing, as well as reading and bearing witness to their stories. They’ve earned it.
Read more at Deadline.
Lead image: The Fall Guy (Universal Pictures)
