John Wick Director Chad Stahelski Praises Oscars for Adding Stunt Design Category: “A Century In The Making”

April 11, 2025: Celebrated stuntman-turned-director Chad Stahelski, best known for helming the John Wick franchise, has shared his appreciation for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) after it announced a landmark decision to include Achievement in Stunt Design as a new competitive category at the 100th Oscars.

Speaking to Deadline, Stahelski reflected on the significance of the moment not just for himself but for generations of stunt professionals whose work has gone largely unrecognized in major awards ceremonies.

“None of us in the industry would be here if it wasn’t for the last 100 years of stunt people,” Stahelski said. “We’ve come a long way because a lot of other people have sacrificed a lot. So, it’s pretty cool to be here and be at the apex of an entire century of performers and coordinators and action directors. And it’s a shame that a lot of them won’t get to see where it all went to.”

The Academy’s decision to add the category—set to be awarded for the first time at the 2028 ceremony for films released in 2027—comes after years of advocacy from the film industry’s stunt community. Stahelski praised the Academy’s approach, particularly its collaborative efforts with industry veterans such as David Leitch, J.J. Perry, and Sam Hargrave, all of whom transitioned from stunt work to directing.

“We’re very lucky to be at the tail end of this, or at the apex where, a couple of years ago, the Academy came to us going, ‘Hey, how do we help? How do we get this going?’” Stahelski explained.
“And for some people, it may have looked like it’s taken a long time, but actually, I give a lot of credit to the Academy for doing it right.”

He emphasized how thoughtfully AMPAS approached the category—not only deciding if the award should exist, but how it should be awarded, and to whom.

“They talked to a lot of the stunt community — stunt coordinators, second-unit directors, the women’s groups, the men’s groups. Every different aspect of the stunt community,” he said.
“They really did their homework… They wanted to know how to give the award, who to give it to, how do we select it—and they really did a good job of putting it together.”

Stahelski also pointed out the complexity of stunt work, which involves various specialists such as fight coordinators, driving experts, choreographers, and underwater stunt teams.

“Unlike a lot of departments, we have many different coordinators,” he said. “So, how do you make the award fair and really get behind what the stunt departments are really about?”

Starting his career as a stunt performer in iconic films like The Crow (1994), The Matrix (1999), Spider-Man 2 (2004), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), and The Hunger Games (2012), Stahelski has become a vocal advocate for stunt professionals. He credits his own journey in the stunt world as the ultimate film education.

“By being a stunt double, where I got to be in front of the camera and learn from cast members, I got to see filmmaking from all different aspects,” he shared.
“It was probably one of the best ways to go to film school… So when you direct, you feel very well-versed in the many different departments and processes of making a film.”

The John Wick director’s words reflect a growing momentum within Hollywood to give stunt work its long-overdue respect—recognizing it as not just physical spectacle, but an essential storytelling craft.

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