A new category will be added the Oscar ceremony beginning in 2028, with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announcing Thursday the creation of a category for Achievement in Stunt Design.
“Since the early days of cinema, stunt design has been an integral part of filmmaking,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said in a joint statement. “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 stunt design Oscar will be presented beginning with the 100th Academy Awards ceremony in early 2028, honoring films released in 2027. Rules for eligibility and voting will be announced in 2027.
The announcement follows years of lobbying by stunt professionals, most notably director/producer David Leitch, whose credits include “Deadpool 2” and “The Fall Guy,” along with stunt coordinator Chris O’Hara.
“This has been a journey for so many of us!,” Leitch wrote on his Instagram page Thursday. “(O’Hara) and myself have invested several years into this. We built on the work of all the stunt designers who fought so hard for this in the past over the past decades. We are very grateful. Thank you (AMPAS).”
According to the Academy, more than 100 stunt professionals are members of the Academy’s Production and Technology Branch.
The Screen Actors Guild Awards added categories for film and television stunt ensembles in 2007.