Tom Hardy: One Stunt Oscar Not Enough for Venom Star

In a recent interview with IGN ahead of the release of his new film, *Havoc*, actor Tom Hardy expressed his views on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' decision to introduce an Oscar for Stunt Design. Hardy believes that while the introduction of this category is a step in the right direction, it might not be sufficient to fully recognize the extensive efforts of those in the stunt industry.

"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 stated. He elaborated on the complexity of stunt work, suggesting that the term 'Stunt Design' encompasses a broad range of skills and roles that deserve individual recognition. "It's not enough just stunt design because there are so many elements that go into stunts as a department," he added, emphasizing the diverse and challenging nature of the work involved.

Hardy further highlighted the unsung heroes of the stunt world, pointing out the physical risks they take and the excitement they bring to films and television. "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 said, advocating for more subcategories to better represent the various facets of stunt work.

Gareth Evans, the director of *Havoc* and known for his work on *The Raid* series, echoed Hardy's sentiments. "Subcategories would be nice," Evans noted, though he emphasized that awards should not be the primary motivator 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 Academy's decision to introduce the Stunt Design category at the 2028 Academy Awards marks a significant milestone, albeit one that has taken a century to achieve. 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.