“The Fall Guy,” a highly anticipated and incredibly enjoyable new action film arrives in theaters on May 3 and stars Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. The plot revolves around a stuntman (Gosling) who becomes involved in a mystery involving the actor he’s supposed to double.
The movie also brings a fresh credit for Chris O’Hara, president of Stunts Unlimited and a well-known stunt coordinator and second unit director, who will be recognized as a “Stunt Designer” in the 87North and Universal Pictures production, marking the industry’s first such film credit.
The official press release explains that O’Hara’s role as a production head, traditionally known as ‘Stunt Coordinator,’ is an official credit within the Screen Actors Guild, also acknowledged by the Directors Guild of America. The addition of the ‘Stunt Designer’ title better encapsulates the multifaceted nature of the profession and may also facilitate a more straightforward path to an Oscar category for stunts, which has faced challenges in determining nominees.
87North, the production company led by David Leitch and producer Kelly McCormick, initiated the Stunt Designer credit to recognize not only O’Hara’s exceptional work on ‘The Fall Guy,’ but also the significant artistic contributions of top-tier stunt coordinators like O’Hara. These individuals do more than just coordinate stunt logistics; they actually design and create them.
In an official statement, Leitch emphasized that “Stunt Designers are the creative visionaries behind fight scenes, high falls, and more, and deserve acknowledgment for their creative leadership.” He expressed hope that Universal’s decision to add ‘Stunt Designer’ to Chris’ credit on ‘The Fall Guy’ will set a precedent for major studios to recognize the stunt industry.
To establish this new credit, McCormick and the 87North team collaborated with Universal to engage the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) and the Directors Guild of America (DGA).
McCormick highlighted the essential role of the Stunt Department during production, noting that while it is typically meant to remain unseen on screen, it significantly impacts all other departments behind the scenes. For ‘The Fall Guy,’ she and Leitch believed it was important to emphasize the artistic and technical aspects of this craft, leading them to propose titling the role as ‘Designer’ to delineate and honor Chris’ creative contributions on the production, reflecting the artistic input he consistently provides in his position as ‘Coordinator.’
O’Hara has been involved in stunt work since the early 1990s, contributing to a wide array of films including “Pearl Harbor,” the original “Matrix” sequels, “Kill Bill: Vol. 2,” “John Wick,” “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw,” “Free Guy,” and “Bullet Train.”
“The Fall Guy” serves as a profound tribute to the stunt community. O’Hara even makes an appearance as himself in the film’s significant opening sequence. This addition of a new credit aligns perfectly with the film's deep connection to the world of stunt performers and coordinators. “The Fall Guy” will be released in theaters on May 3.
The new credit was established to show the artistic role of stunt coordinators who act as creative designers.
