"The Academy is delighted to welcome these distinguished fellow travelers in the motion picture arts and sciences. We have always embraced extraordinary talent that reflects the rich variety of our global film community, and never more so than now," Academy President David Rubin said.
The Academy's statement breaks it down like this: new invitees are 49% international, 45% women, and 36% come from underrepresented ethnic and racial backgrounds. A total of 68 countries are represented. New names include actors Yalitza Aparicio, Awkwafina, Zendaya Coleman, Cynthia Erivo, Eva Longoria, John David Washington, Florence Pugh, Olivia Wilde, and five of the South Korean stars from Best Picture winner Parasite: Jang Hye-Jin, Jo Yeo-Jeong, Lee Jung-Eun, Choi Woo-Shik, and Park So-Dam. Director invitees include Lulu Wang, Matt Reeves, and Ari Aster.
Wang, who directed The Farewell, shared the news on her Twitter feed, writing, "Though there is still much work to be done, this class looks more like an actual jury of our PEERS than ever before, so that's a step in the right direction. Onwards!"
