New Oscar Category for Stunt Design Set to Launch in 2028

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the introduction of a new category for Stunt Design at the Academy Awards, set to debut in 2028. This addition comes in response to long-standing requests from the stunt community, recognizing their significant contributions to the film industry.

Stunt design has played a pivotal role in filmmaking since the inception of cinema, as noted by Academy leadership. The new category aims to honor the innovative and creative efforts of stunt professionals who bring action sequences to life on screen.

The inaugural award for Stunt Design will be presented during the 100th Academy Awards ceremony in 2028. The Academy plans to establish the guidelines for this category in the year leading up to the event.

Currently, there are approximately 100 stunt professionals among the Academy's more than 10,000 voting members. The Academy has not introduced a new category since 2002, when it added the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Since then, the awards have been given in 23 categories, including prestigious ones like Best Picture and Best Director.

In addition to the Stunt Design category, the Academy is also set to introduce a new category for Casting Directors in 2026, which was announced last year. This move reflects the growing recognition of the critical roles that various professionals play in the filmmaking process.

For many years, members of the stunt community have advocated for their own Oscar category. Notable figures in this effort include director David Leitch, known for films like Deadpool 2 and Bullet Train, who has a background as a stuntman and coordinator.

Throughout its history, the Academy has awarded honorary Oscars to a few outstanding stunt performers, including the legendary Yakima Canutt in 1966 and Hal Needham in 2012, acknowledging their remarkable contributions to the art of filmmaking.