Academy Invites 529 New Members to Oscar Voting Body

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Wednesday invited 529 people to join its Oscar voting body. If all accept, the academy will have 11,319 members, including 10,338 voters. In 2016 the organization had roughly 6,000 members. Among those invited are Teyana Taylor, Josh O’Connor, Jenna Ortega, Jacob Elordi and Simu Liu.

Other invitees include Anthony Ramos, Bill Skarsgård, Mia Goth, Jon Bernthal, Jemaine Clement, Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, Stephen Fry, Zach Cregger and Oliver Laxe.

The new class is 42 percent women, 56 percent from underrepresented communities and 53 percent from countries outside the U.S. Overseas members now make up 22 percent of the total group. After the new members are added, the academy will be 64 percent male and 75 percent white. In 2015 it was 75 percent male and 92 percent white.

Last year the academy added 534 voters.

After several years of classes near 1,000 members, recent classes have been smaller. The academy has introduced new categories in recent years. The first casting award was presented earlier this year; the first stunt-design Oscar will be given in 2028.

The 99th Academy Awards are scheduled for March 14, 2027, with Conan O’Brien returning as host for a third consecutive year. “Membership selection is based on professional qualifications, with an ongoing commitment to representation, inclusion and equity remaining a priority,” the academy said in its announcement.