Tom Hardy Demands Oscar For Venom Stunt Work

Following the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' decision to finally introduce an Oscar for Stunt Design, actor Tom Hardy has raised the question of whether just one award category truly suffices.

In an interview with IGN ahead of his new film Havoc's release, Hardy shared his thoughts: "A single Oscar in some ways feels too little, too late. It's definitely a step forward—I see it as a glass half full—but I believe the industry may be asking for more."

“Labeling it just 'stunt design' doesn't fully capture what the stunt department brings to the table,” the star of Venom and Mad Max: Fury Road elaborated. “The design aspect acts as an umbrella covering a wide range of specialists within that field—all of whom deserve recognition for their intensive work. The stunt and effects teams deliver the excitement for audiences who love cinematic action, whether it's on horseback, in car chases, falls from buildings, fire stunts, fight scenes, vehicle impacts, underwater sequences, or skydiving.

“That whole community often goes unrecognized, yet they put their bodies on the line and remain mostly behind the scenes. They are the ones who truly bring the thrill to film and television. Many of my friends work in stunts, and I'd really like to see more subcategories introduced to honor their contributions.”

This viewpoint is shared by Havoc director Gareth Evans, whose work on The Raid films showcased some of the most thrilling action and stunt sequences in modern cinema.

“Having subcategories would be a welcome addition,” Evans noted. “Awards aren’t what drive the craft—that would be the wrong motivation. It’s about creative expression within the framework of the film you’re making. That said, it’s high time this work received formal recognition. It's surprising it took this long to happen.”

It will have taken a full century for the Oscars to establish a category honoring stunt design when it debuts at the 2028 Academy Awards. You won't have to wait nearly as long to see Havoc, however—the film arrives on Netflix this Friday, April 25th, giving viewers plenty of Tom Hardy dispatching foes in high-stakes action.