Academy Invites 534 for 2025, Boosts Diversity

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 534 new members for 2025, including Ariana Grande, Kieran Culkin, Mikey Madison, Jason Momoa, Kamal Haasan, Ayushmann Khurrana, and late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Conan O’Brien. The class is the most diverse yet, with 41% women, 45% from underrepresented communities, and 55% international, reflecting ongoing efforts to address past criticism after #OscarsSoWhite. The invitees include 91 Oscar nominees and 26 winners, such as Best Actress Mikey Madison (Anora) and Best Supporting Actor Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain). If all accept, Academy membership will reach 11,120, with 10,143 eligible Oscar voters. Karla Sofía Gascón, the first openly trans acting nominee, was not invited, reportedly due to controversy over past remarks. The new members span all branches, further globalizing and enriching the Academy’s voting body for the 2026 Oscars.