The Board of Governors for the Academy Awards released a letter stating it will add a new Oscar category for “outstanding achievement in popular film.” While eligibility requirements and other details will be announced at a later date, if the changes are fast-tracked to coincide with the 91st Oscars blockbusters like Black Panther, Deadpool 2, Avengers: Infinity, Ant-Man and the Wasp or Solo: A Star Wars Story may all be in the running for an award a little more high profile than makeup, effects, or screenplay adaptation.
 

THR published the letter from the Academy to its members, announcing significant changes to the Oscars telecast. Since last year’s Oscars telecast was the lowest-rated Academy Awards telecast on record (only 26.5 million viewers) the stodgy and tradition-bound ceremony is being revamped, limited to a three hour runtime, and adding the new category in order to “Keep the Oscars and our Academy relevant in a changing world.”

THR, which has already dubbed the new award “the Popcorn Oscar,” predicts viewership will jump based on the addition of the new award alone, along with the expected attendance of fan-favorite stars at the ceremony.

Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool 2 Oscar consideration video may be more serious this year (see “Ryan Reynolds Shares 'Deadpool' Oscar Consideration Video”).