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And the Oscar goes to, well, it's still a few years away, but the Academy is already making room for a new kind of star
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They've announced how they'll finally honor a group of film professionals who may often be overlooked
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Introducing the Academy Award for stunt design. Debuting at the 100th Oscars in 2028, the new category will recognize films released in 2027
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Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang said in a joint statement
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Since the early days of cinema, stunt design has been an integral part of filmmaking
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We are proud to honor the innovative work of these technical and creative artists
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and we congratulate them for their commitment and dedication in reaching this momentous occasion
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According to a press release, more than 100 stunt professionals are members of the Academy's production and technology branch
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But the new category didn't just appear overnight. David Leach, the director behind John Wick and Deadpool 2
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has been a longtime champion of the change. Leach started his career as a stunt performer and coordinator and now runs 87 North productions in Hollywood He and others spent years presenting to the academy to push for recognition Part of its weight training part of it really just doing the job every day
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And so I demand that our teams become as athletic as possible
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He tells Deadline stunts are essential to every genre of film. Further saying, this has been a long journey for so many of us
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Chris O'Hara and I have spent years working to bring this moment to life. Standing on the shoulders of the stunt professionals who fought tirelessly for recognition over the decades, we are incredibly grateful
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The timing aligns with a growing trend. Leach's 2024 movie The Fall Guy stars Ryan Gosling as a stuntman, putting the risks of the job front and center
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It's yet another sign that stunt performers are gaining more visibility in Hollywood, something also seen in Quentin Tarantino's 2019 Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
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This new Oscars category follows the creation of Best Casting, which was established in 2024 and will be awarded for the first time next year
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With Straight Arrow News, I'm Kennedy Felton. Download our app or visit san.com for more
