Lastly, after years and years and years, the Academy Awards will formally award stunts! For a really very long time now, there’s been a marketing campaign so as to add a class that honors those that create epic motion in a few of the finest motion pictures. Now, it would occur, and two of movies’ prime motion administrators, Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, reacted to the information alongside a bunch of different excited of us.
For context, John Wick’s Chad Stahelski has been one of many greatest advocates for the addition of an Achievement in Stunt Design award. After the information was introduced, the director obtained on the cellphone with Deadline within the midst of engaged on the 2025 film schedule’s Ballerina (which he is a producer on) and stated:
None of us [in the industry] can be right here if it wasn’t for the final 100 years of stunt individuals. We’ve come a good distance as a result of plenty of different individuals have sacrificed quite a bit. So, it’s fairly cool to be right here and be on the apex of a whole century of performers and coordinators and motion administrators. And it’s a disgrace that plenty of them received’t get to see the place all of it went to.
Stahelski additionally praised The Academy for “actually [doing] their homework.” He stated the group didn’t doubt that the stunt class wanted to be added, that’s not essentially why this addition took so lengthy. As an alternative, they took their time determining “learn how to give the award, who to provide it to,” and “how can we choose it.”
Now, the primary Achievement in Stunt Design award will probably be given out in 2028 on the a hundredth Oscars for movies launched in 2027, per Selection. Guidelines for eligibility and voting can even be introduced round then.
Alongside Stahelski, many different suntmen-turned-directors performed a job within the addition of this class. This included David Leitch, the director of movies like The Fall Man and Deadpool 2. He took to his Instagram to submit a picture of The Academy’s letter saying the information and wrote:
This has been a journey for therefore many people! @airaware1 and myself have invested a number of years into this. We constructed on the work of all of the stunt designers who fought so onerous for this previously over the previous a long time. We’re very grateful. Thank You @theacademy
Within the feedback on Leitch’s submit, many actors shared their pleasure for the addition as nicely, and the record included Hannah Waddingham, who notably starred in his movie The Fall Man:
- “🔥🔥🔥”-Pom Klementieff
- “Oh my GOD,that is immense! Past thrilled for the worldwide stunt neighborhood. So riDICulously nicely deserved. An outstanding band of people who give every part of themselves day-after-day and take care of us ALL each minute. Couldn’t be happier. 🥰 What a day lastly! XXXXXXXXX” -Hannah Waddingham
- “👏👏👏” -Nicholas Hoult
Many others within the stunt neighborhood additionally reacted to this historic and thrilling information. Notably, this included The Fall Man’s stunt coordinator Chris O’Hara and Josh Oreck, who has been a producer on many John Wick motion pictures. In a joint IG submit with David Leitch and Narrator Inc, the group expressed:
Stunts: Fuck yeah! Congrats to the tens of hundreds of unbelievable performers, craftspeople, senseis, cowboys, warriors, dancers, engineers, jocks, nerds and everybody else on each stunt crew which have put all of it on the road to entertain and enthrall us for 100+ years – with no recognition apart from the enjoyment of the method and plenty of bodily remedy. It has been a singular privilege to bear witness to a tremendous band of misfits that sprang up within the South Bay and has modified cinema over a long time of tireless work.
General, it is a large and historic win for stunts, and so many individuals can’t wait to see these unbelievable groups nominated and awarded for his or her action-packed work.
Whereas it’s too unhealthy we will’t return and award the finest motion motion pictures from a long time previous with this award, not less than will probably be given shifting ahead. And who is aware of, possibly the inaugural Achievement in Stunt Design award will go to one of many of us talked about above. It’s actually attainable, particularly with movies like John Wick: Chapter 5 coming down the road.