The Academy – sorry, that’s the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences – has unveiled its newest roster of entrants, boasting 774 movie pros who’ll determine Oscars glory.
Not only is that a record number of new inductees, it comes at a crucial time in the history of the Academy.
After 2016’s entirely white list of acting award nominees, Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs claimed to be “heartbroken” at the lack of diversity on display.
While 2017’s awards were somewhat different – see the triumph of Best Actor Mahershala Ali and Best Actress Viola Davis – the diversity of the new entrants aims seems to be a safeguard against another perceived white-washing.
Mahershala Ali thanks his wife: “She was in her third trimester during awards season. We just had our daughter 4 days ago.” #Oscars pic.twitter.com/WpRi6RYlGr
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 27, 2017
The Academy is pretty keen to reveal the statistics of the new crop: 57 countries are represented, and 30% of new inductees are people of colour. Women also comprise 39% of the rookies.
Some pretty huge names are now part of the fold, from disciplines including acting, writing, music, make-up, and production: Moonlight director Barry Jenkins, Donald Glover, Jordan Peele, Riz Ahmed, Gal Gadot, Aishwarya Rai, John Cho, Priyanka Chopra, The Rock, and even Terry Crews (!) have been added.
A slew of notable Aussies are included, too. Nick Cave, Margot Robbie, Chris Hemsworth, Joel Edgerton, and Lion director Garth Davis are just a few of the Antipodeans now able to have their say on where those bald statuettes end up.
You can dig through the entire list right of newbies HERE, and keep their potential votes in mind when nominees for the 2018 ceremony are announced.
