Indy, the scene-stealing canine star of the new horror outing Good Boy, has made a heartfelt appeal to be considered for the 98th Annual Academy Awards. Following a positive debut at this year’s SXSW Film Festival, Good Boy recently made its US theatrical release on October 3rd, grossing $2.3 million within its first three days of release.

With Good Boy earning largely favorable reviews, many audience members and critics have lauded the film’s canine lead, from whose perspective the story is told, as the movie’s standout performance. At this year’s SXSW, Indy even received a special award from festival organizers, and was bestowed with the one-off “Howl of Fame” award.

Now, Indy has set his sights on Hollywood’s most prestigious awards ceremony, and an open letter has been penned in his name to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to be considered eligible for the Best Actor category. Indy’s heartfelt plea asks the Academy to “recognize the rich and complex contributions of our canine thespians.”

Citing the works of animal performers in films such as 1991’s White Fang and 2011’s Academy Award-nominated War Horse, Indy’s letter suggests that animal performers “remain largely absent from your yearly accolades, unrecognized for our craft, and left in my smaller but still adequate house by the academy at large.”

There May Be More To Indy’s Plea Than Promotional Clout

Over the years, the Academy Awards have often been reluctant to introduce new award categories, despite repeated calls from both industry professionals and the general public to recognize a broader range of contributions within the film industry.

While the Academy has finally agreed to begin accepting nominations for a new category, Achievement in Stunt Design, beginning with 2028’s ceremony, its addition has been the hard-won result of a tireless and years-long campaign to recognize stunt professionals within the industry’s peak awards night.

While it is unlikely Indy will get his chance to secure an official Best Actor nomination for his work in Good Boy, the letter does raise questions about the potential recognition of animal performers in the motion picture industry, along with the various trainers and handlers responsible for their work.

Perhaps, in years to come, the breakout Good Boy star may still get his wish to see his four-legged brethren, and the humans responsible for their care and training, more appropriately recognized for their place in the movie industry too.