Tom Hardy on Venom Stunt Oscar: 'One Not Enough'

In a recent interview with IGN ahead of the release of his new film, Havoc, actor Tom Hardy expressed his thoughts on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' decision to introduce an Oscar for Stunt Design. Hardy questioned the sufficiency of just one award category, stating, "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 stunts in film, 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." He emphasized the diverse range of stunt work, from horseback riding and car chases to skydiving and underwater scenes, and the dedication of the unsung heroes in the stunt community.

The actor, known for his roles in Venom and Mad Max: Fury Road, advocated for subcategories to better recognize the various aspects of stunt work. "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's sentiments were echoed by Havoc's director, Gareth Evans, known for his work on The Raid films. Evans supported the idea of subcategories, stating, "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 go really."

The introduction of the Stunt Design Oscar, set to debut at the 2028 Academy Awards, marks a significant step forward after a century of oversight. However, fans won't have to wait as long to see Havoc, which will be available on Netflix starting this Friday, April 25th, featuring Tom Hardy in a high-octane performance.