Oscars Invite Record Number of New Members, Including Gal Gadot, Jordan Peele, John Cho
Oscar is getting some new blood.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences invited a record 774 new members to its ranks.
Outgoing Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs made it a goal to diversify the voting pool after the #OscarsSoWhite controversy several years ago. Seems progress is being made: The new members come from 57 countries, and 39 percent are female and 30 percent are people of color.
In the actors branch, the oldest new member is 95-year-old Betty White and the youngest is 19-year-old Elle Fanning. "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot joined the club, as did Marvel superheroes Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, and Chris Pratt.
Other actors invited to join the club are Riz Ahmed, John Cho, Donald Glover, Priyanka Chopra, Dwayne Johnson, Keegan Michael-Key, Sarah Paulson, Margot Robbie, Channing Tatum, and Rebel Wilson. Two of the stars of last year's Oscars Best Picture winner, "Moonlight" (NOT "La La Land), are also on the list — Naomie Harris and Janelle Monae.
Speaking of "Moonlight," writer/director Barry Jenkins was invited to both branches. So was Jordan Peele, the mastermind behind this year's hit horror flick "Get Out."