New Oscars Awards Category Puts the Pressure On the Next James Bond

After nearly 100 years, the Academy Awards have finally decided to create a new award category for what is arguably one of the coolest and most enduring aspects of filmmaking — stunts. But, don't expect any movies from 2025 or even 2026 to be eligible. Instead, this new category won't be part of the Oscars ceremony until 2028, meaning 2027 movies will be on the hook for the award of Best Stunt Design, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

While Tom Cruise is likely furious that 2025's Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning won't be eligible, this news does put pressure on Amazon to get that next James Bond movie out by 2027. Of all the action movie franchises in history, the Bond films totally set the standard for stunt design in major motion pictures. Yes, some might say that since then, several films (and franchises) have surpassed the 007 films, but it's still very hard to argue with the incredible stunts from all the Bond films; from the car chases of the Sean Connery era to the amazing fights performed by Daniel Craig.

Related: New James Bond Producers Promise to 'Keep the Spirit of Bond Very Much Alive'

Obviously, there will be plenty of action movies released in 2027, including Avengers: Secret Wars, which, right now, would likely be the leading contender for this category. (At least in terms of movies we know are coming out.) This news also probably is making Vin Diesel sweat, since Fast X: Part 2 seems to be languishing in development limbo. It's also possible the third Dune film could hit in 2027, making this new Oscars stunt category into a very, very big deal.

Currently, the next James Bond film has started pre-production in London, with its new producers, Amy Pascal and David Heyman, hard at work. Meanwhile, the Oscars seems to still have a sweet spot for 007; the 2025 Oscars featured an intricate musical tribute to James Bond, which, depending on who you asked, was either strange or incredible. 

Here's hoping Bond can get it together for a 2027 release. In the first year that the Oscars gives out a Best Stunt Design award, James Bond should at least be nominated. 

Related: Watch the Full Oscars James Bond Musical Tribute Right Here