Tom Hardy: One Stunt Oscar for Venom Not Sufficient

Following the announcement that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will finally introduce an Oscar for Stunt Design, actor Tom Hardy has expressed his view that a single award category may not be sufficient to honor the diverse and complex nature of stunt work in film.

In an interview with 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." He elaborated on the complexity of stunts, 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."

Hardy emphasized the unsung nature of the stunt community, 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, known for his work on The Raid films, which are renowned for their thrilling action and stunt sequences. Evans remarked, "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 introduction of the Stunt Design Oscar at the 2028 Academy Awards marks a significant, albeit belated, recognition of the craft after 100 years. Meanwhile, fans won't have to wait as long to see Tom Hardy in action, as Havoc is set to premiere on Netflix this Friday, April 25th.