The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has decided to add a new category to the Oscars. Starting with the 100th Academy Awards in 2028, there will be an annual award for stunt design. This is a big deal for the stunt community, who have been pushing for recognition for a long time.

The idea for this new category came from director and producer David Leitch. He started his career as a stunt performer and coordinator. Leitch, along with stunt coordinator and designer Chris O’Hara, worked hard to convince the Academy to add this category. Their efforts paid off when the Board of Governors approved the new award.

The Academy's CEO and president were thrilled about this addition. They said that stunt design has always been a crucial part of filmmaking. They are proud to finally honor the innovative work of these artists.

Leitch himself was excited about the news. He talked about how stunts have been a part of films since the very beginning. From early pioneers like Buster Keaton to today's stunt designers, their work has always been essential. Leitch and O’Hara have been working for years to make this happen. They are grateful to the Academy for finally recognizing the stunt community's hard work.

Chad Stahelski, known for his work on "John Wick, " was also happy about the news. He said that the stunt department has been around since the start of films. It's great to see the Academy finally acknowledging their work. He also pointed out that the stunt department is one of the most collaborative and intricate of all the departments.

The rules for eligibility and voting for the inaugural award will be announced in 2027. The specifics of the award's presentation will be determined later. This is a big win for the stunt community, who have been fighting for recognition for decades. It's a step towards acknowledging the hard work and dedication of these artists.

The stunt community has been gaining momentum in recent years. In 2024, the Screen Actors Guild and Directors Guild of America approved the first-ever credit of "stunt designer. " This is a big step towards recognizing the important role that stunt designers play in filmmaking. The addition of this new Oscar category is another step in the right direction.

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