The Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences has FINALLY announced the introduction of a brand new Oscar marking Best Stunt Design! Well done to the many campaigners and the Bond-ready David Leitch (BULLET TRAIN) for ensuring one of the first onscreen skills seen in the very history of early cinema is finally getting its own award category.
The Bond films alone could have easily scooped up Best Stunt Design at any time in their history – for the parachute jump in THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, the Golden Gate Bridge work of A VIEW TO A KILL, the ski doubling for THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH, the bungee jump from GOLDENEYE, the DB5 chase in NO TIME TO DIE, the pioneering ski work for ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE, the action narrative of the truck chase in LICENCE TO KILL, the alpine creativity of FOR YOUR EYES ONLY, the plane fight of OCTOPUSSY, or that car roll in THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN.
So, with the new stunt award hitting a burning crash mat at the 100th Academy Awards held in 2028, it makes a certain sense Amazon MGM Studios and BOND 26 makes a concerted effort to nab that first Best Stunt Design Oscar – and simultaneously honour the unsung men and women of Bond who have given their talents and limbs to bolster the onscreen adventures of 007.
For a brilliant history on the British stunt crews who punctuated the 007 series, pop on a flame retardant suit and leap into Jon Spira’s brilliant HOLLYWOOD BULLDOGS – THE RISE AND FALLS OF THE GREAT BRITISH STUNTMAN.
