Tom Hardy: One Stunt Oscar for Venom Not Enough

In a significant development for the film industry, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the introduction of an Oscar for Stunt Design. This news has sparked a conversation about the recognition of stunt work in cinema, with actor Tom Hardy expressing his views on the matter. Speaking to IGN ahead of the release of his new film, Havoc, Hardy stated, "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, known for his roles in films like Venom and Mad Max: Fury Road, elaborated on the complexity of stunt work, saying, "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 emphasized the often overlooked contributions of stunt professionals, stating, "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."

This sentiment is shared by Havoc's director, Gareth Evans, who has previously directed the acclaimed action-packed The Raid films. Evans commented, "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 new Oscar category for Stunt Design will be introduced at the 2028 Academy Awards, marking a century-long wait for the recognition of this crucial aspect of filmmaking. However, fans of Tom Hardy won't have to wait as long to see his latest work, as Havoc is set to premiere on Netflix this Friday, April 25th.