Tom Hardy: One Stunt Oscar Not Enough for Venom Star

In light of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' recent decision to introduce an Oscar for Stunt Design, actor Tom Hardy has expressed his views on the matter, suggesting that a single award may not suffice to honor the full spectrum of stunt work in cinema. Speaking to IGN ahead of the release of his new film, Havoc, Hardy remarked, "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 elaborated on the complexity of the stunt department, highlighting the various components that contribute to the final product. "It's not enough just stunt design because there are so many elements that go into stunts as a department," he said. The actor, known for his roles in Venom and Mad Max: Fury Road, emphasized the need to recognize the diverse groups within the stunt world. "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 stressed the importance of recognizing the unsung heroes of the stunt industry, who risk their lives to bring excitement to the screen. "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, whose previous work on The Raid films has been celebrated for its groundbreaking action and stunt sequences. "Subcategories would be nice," Evans commented. However, he also noted that awards should not be the primary motivation for the craft. "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, set to debut at the 2028 Academy Awards, marks a significant milestone after a century of oversight. Meanwhile, fans eager to see Tom Hardy in action won't have to wait as long, as Havoc is set to premiere on Netflix this Friday, April 25th.