The Academy Awards are adding a new category for its 100th anniversary.
The prize for Best Stunt Design will debut at the 2028 ceremony, honoring movies released the previous year.
“Since the early days of cinema, stunt design has been an integral part of filmmaking,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang said in a joint statement on Thursday. “We are proud to honor the innovative work of these technical and creative artists, and we congratulate them for their commitment and dedication in reaching this momentous occasion.”
The creation of the new award was pitched to the organization by director David Leitch, who began working in Hollywood as a stuntman, along with stunt designer and coordinator Chris O’Hara.
“Stunts are essential to every genre of film and rooted deep in our industry’s history,” Leitch said in a statement. “Chris O’Hara and I have spent years working to bring this moment to life, standing on the shoulders of the stunt professionals who’ve fought tirelessly for recognition over the decades. We are incredibly grateful.”
While the category is new, the Oscars did pay tribute to stunt performers at its 2024 ceremony.
A video montage looking back at the past 100 years featured scenes from Silent Film Era stars like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, as well as modern action flicks like “Mission: Impossible” and “The Matrix.”
The award for Best Stunt Design is not the only new category being added to the Oscars. In 2026, for the very first time, the Academy Awards will present the trophy for Best Achievement in Casting.
It’s unclear whether either new award will be included in the live broadcast.
