John Wick Director Chad Stahelski Says the Oscars Should Recognize Stunts

John Wick director Chad Stahelski thinks there should be an Academy Award for stunt work. The director, who helmed the original entry in the John Wick movie series with an uncredited David Leitch before directing all the subsequent sequels himself, started his career as a stuntman before becoming the director of a very stunt-heavy film series.

Upon hearing that the Academy should reconsider having a stunt category, Stahelski said he doesn’t think they’ve ever considered it.

“I think if I went to the Academy right now and asked, ‘Are there any of you who think stunts shouldn’t be in the Oscars?’ Could you find a single person? I don’t think so.”

Stahelski said that the issue is no one’s having that conversation, except for him, in that interview with Deadline.

“There’s not a single arguable reason not to have stunts in the Academy Awards. No one’s gonna deny that we are at least equal to every other department. We’re part of every film, as much part of Hollywood lore as music, costumes, technical achievements, directing or cinematography. And none of the people in those departments will deny that. I just think we haven’t had the talk. I think there’s some challenges in it. The stunt department works very differently.”

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Some Issues With A Oscar for Best Stunt

Stahelski went on to describe how working on stunts is a team effort. For him, he has Scott Rogers handle “the cars and the rigging and the safety.” Jeremy Arenas, who handles the fight choreography. There are also three other riggers and choreographers, along with two assistant stunt coordinators. Stahelski himself coordinates half the work while the editors then put all the pieces together. So, who of the nine people should get the Oscar for Best Stunt?

“And what are you given the Oscar for? There is the great staircase fall for John Wick, and a couple great car hits. There’s a great high fall out the window. But the effect of John Wick is the overall action of the movie. So are you giving the award for Best Stunt or Best Stunt Sequence, or Best Stunt Constant? The stunt guys don’t know the answer. And I guarantee you the Academy doesn’t either.”

However, Stahelski went on to say that he had faith in the “smart people at the Academy and all our smart people” to figure it out. Stahelski added that he would be perfectly happy as a “representative for the stunt community,” among others, to sit down and work out all the wrinkles in creating the new category.

“We are as a relevant as any department, and I’m gonna be a little arrogant and say, I think we’d add a little something to the Oscars. It’s a legitimate win-win situation. No great stunt person or performer I know is doing it for accolades or statues. It doesn’t mean that much to us. But it is nice to be recognized by your peers. It’s time.”