Ryan Reynolds Praises Stunt Team, Calls For Oscar Stunt Category

Is the Academy Awards overdue for a category to honor stunt performers? Actor Ryan Reynolds certainly thinks so. He’s urging the Academy to consider adding a stunt award category to recognize the performers who risk their lives to deliver breathtaking action sequences on screen.

"Stunt work doesn't have a category at the Oscars, and I hope that'll change someday," Reynolds wrote on X. "So many films have smashed it this year. Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, and Chaplin were stunt performers as well as filmmakers, telling stories with their entire bodies."

Reynolds went on to commend his own team: "This D&W stunt team over-delivered. A lot of them are friends I've worked with for years, and I'll spend the rest of my days doodling their names in my Heidi Stationery, dotting all the 'i's' with little hearts."

He specifically mentioned his stunt double and fight coordinator Alex Kyshkovych, who has been with him through all three Deadpool movies, as well as second unit director and supervising stunt coordinator George Cottle and Hugh Jackman's Wolverine double, Daniel Stevens.

Reynolds concluded with a call to action: "If you'd like to see @TheAcademy recognize the amazing work of stunt teams ACROSS THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY, let them know!"

Stunt performers are essential to countless films, regularly putting their safety on the line, yet the Oscars have not yet recognized their contributions. Directors and actors, including John Wick’s Chad Stahelski and The Fall Guy’s Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, have also been advocating for a stunt Oscar category. Gosling told GamesRadar+, "It's time to [...] give them an Oscar, give them their flowers and credit. It's a fascinating line of work, and they're such selfless and brave people, and just made for a really exciting film."

Publications like Vulture and The Hollywood Reporter have also argued that it’s time for the Oscars to acknowledge stunts as critical cinematic achievements. Vulture highlighted films such as Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and 2007’s Death Proof as movies that show the importance of stunt professionals. The Hollywood Reporter pointed out that the Emmys and SAG Awards each have two categories for stunts, but film’s highest honor is an Oscar.

Earlier this summer, Academy CEO Bill Kramer offered some hope, stating, “We’re talking to members of the stunt community who are Academy members about the possibility of that. We added a new award that will launch in two years for Casting Directors, so we’re always open to those discussions.”