A historic breakthrough is in play with confirmation from Variety that puppeteer James Ortiz is now eligible to receive a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Rocky in the sci-fi feature Project Hail Mary. Ortiz will be in the running because the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is breaking ground by allowing actors who use motion capture technology, such as Andy Serkis, to compete in the acting categories.
James Ortiz is being recognized for the way he brought his character to life. The movie opted against creating a purely computer-generated puppet for the character and instead used puppeteering techniques via an elaborate rod puppet by Neal Scanlan, which Ortiz performed on stage. The puppet performs alongside Ryan Gosling, engaging in both physical and vocal performances.
Why is James Ortiz’s Rocky performance breaking new ground for acting?
Project Hail Mary directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller originally intended to replace Rocky’s voice with one of Hollywood’s best, but they changed their mind after seeing his onscreen chemistry with Gosling. Ortiz’s original performance stayed within the final cut of the film and has become crucial to the film’s success in terms of award eligibility.
The eligibility rules differ when it comes to the various award ceremonies. The Oscars and SAG Awards consider James Ortiz eligible for a nomination, while the Golden Globe Awards do not, based on their exclusion of voice acting. BAFTA is currently considering Ortiz’s eligibility, as they have allowed other unconventional actors into their races, such as Eddie Murphy for Shrek.
Released on March 20, 2026, Project Hail Mary has been enjoying immense popularity, recently returning to IMAX 70mm screens. Ortiz has become a historic part of Oscar season after being previously recognized for his puppeteer skills in the Broadway version of Into the Woods. Fan campaigns to get a nomination for the puppeteer include the hashtag Amaze! after the name of the character’s catchphrase in Andy Weir‘s novel.
If James Ortiz fails to make the Best Supporting Actor nominations list, insiders have suggested that the Academy will create a Special Achievement Award in order to recognize the actor. Either way, Ortiz is already considered to be setting a trend regarding what acting means in the modern age of filmmaking.