Tom Hardy: One Stunt Oscar Not Enough for Venom Star

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, set to debut at the 2028 Academy Awards. This long-awaited recognition has sparked a conversation about the adequacy of a single award category for the diverse and complex world of stunt work. Actor Tom Hardy, known for his roles in films like Venom and Mad Max: Fury Road, shared his thoughts on this matter with IGN ahead of the release of his new film, Havoc.

Hardy expressed that while the introduction of the Stunt Design Oscar is a positive step, it might not be sufficient to fully honor the multifaceted nature of stunt work. "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 remarked. He emphasized the complexity of stunts, noting that the design element encompasses a wide range of skills and efforts. "It's not enough just stunt design because there are so many elements that go into stunts as a department," Hardy explained. He highlighted the various aspects of stunt work, from horseback riding and car chases to high falls, fire stunts, fight choreography, and more, underscoring the dedication and risk involved in these performances.

"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," Hardy added, advocating for more nuanced recognition of the stunt community's contributions.

Havoc's director, Gareth Evans, known for his work on The Raid films, echoed Hardy's sentiments. "Subcategories would be nice," Evans stated, though he emphasized that awards should not be the primary motivation for stunt work. "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 marks a historic moment, coming 100 years after the first Academy Awards. While fans and industry professionals alike will have to wait until 2028 to see this category in action, they won't have to wait as long to see Tom Hardy in action. His latest film, Havoc, will be available on Netflix starting this Friday, April 25th.