In a significant move, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the introduction of an Oscar for Stunt Design, set to be awarded starting at the 2028 Academy Awards. However, actor Tom Hardy, known for his roles in films like "Venom" and "Mad Max: Fury Road," has expressed that this single award might not suffice to honor the full spectrum of stunt work in cinema. Speaking to IGN ahead of the release of his new film, "Havoc," Hardy shared his thoughts: “One Oscar, it's a bit too little too late in some aspects. It's good, it's great and cup half full territory, but I think perhaps more is asked for.”
Hardy elaborated on the complexity of stunts, emphasizing that the term "Stunt Design" encompasses a wide range of skills and efforts: “It's not enough just stunt design because there are so many elements that go into stunts as a department. The design element is like an umbrella for a diaspora of different groups within that world that all need to be illuminated, and understood, quite how hard they work, and what the stunt department, along with effects, deliver for people that want to go to cinema or sit down and watch anything remotely with any action or anything beyond just the written word or the spoken word. Whether it's people on horseback, cars, people jumping off buildings, people being on fire, fights, people getting run over, underwater, skydiving, whatever it is.”
He stressed the often unrecognized dedication of stunt professionals: “That entire universe of people is unsung, and they put a lot on the line for that physically, and they're largely unspoken, but they do really put the thrill into film and TV. I've got a lot of friends in that world, so yeah, I'd like to see some subcategories in there as well.”
Hardy's sentiments are echoed by "Havoc" director Gareth Evans, who has previously helmed the action-packed "The Raid" films. Evans supports the idea of subcategories, stating: “Subcategories would be nice. I don't think awards drive the craft. I think that's the wrong reason to do it. I think it's all about expressing yourself within the parameters of what the film is that you're making. I think it's about time that it got rewarded, about time that it had some recognition, and hard to understand why it wasn't from the get-go really.”
The introduction of the Stunt Design Oscar marks a historic step, albeit one that has taken a century to materialize. While fans will have to wait until the 2028 Academy Awards to see this new category in action, they won't have to wait as long to catch "Havoc," which will be available on Netflix starting this Friday, April 25th, offering viewers a chance to see Tom Hardy in action.
