The Dog From Good Boy Wants To Be Considered For An Oscar, ‘Wrote’ A Funny Open Letter

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Award season is here, and everyone’s already talking about who might be nominated for an Oscar. Will Leonardo DiCaprio go head-to-head with Michael B. Jordan, who’s hoping for his first award? Could Teyana Taylor beat out Ariana Grande, who delivered a moving performance in *Wicked*? There are so many possibilities, and things just got even more interesting – a letter supposedly written by the dog actor from *Good Boy* is making the rounds, and he’s throwing his hat in the ring!

The new horror film, *Good Boy*, is already creating a lot of excitement, especially thanks to the lead performance by the dog actor, Indy. Interestingly, Indy is actually the director Ben Leonberg’s pet, and the film is told entirely from the dog’s point of view. *Good Boy* has received positive reviews, with many praising Indy’s acting. The filmmakers believe Indy’s performance is so good it deserves an Oscar, even though dogs aren’t eligible! Indy himself even ‘wrote’ an open letter to Variety expressing his desire to win.

I’m writing because I was so hoping to be considered for Best Actor at the Academy Awards this year, especially after the amazing response to my role in “Good Boy.” But I just found out I’m not eligible, and honestly, it feels pretty disheartening. It’s like they’re saying I didn’t quite measure up, that I wasn’t “good enough” – which is a little ironic, considering the film’s title! I truly poured my heart into that performance and was really hoping it would be recognized.

It’s all very cute and a smart way to promote the film. The ‘open letter’ was shared with the publication directly by IFC, the movie’s distributor.

The movie *Good Boy* tells the story of a man who unknowingly moves into a haunted house. As an evil presence takes control of him, it’s up to his dog to rescue him. It’s a fresh spin on the classic haunted house genre, and interest in the film is increasing as more people hear about it. The dog actor, Indy, is receiving a lot of praise for his performance – some even believe he could become a major star, competing with established actors like Leonardo DiCaprio and Ethan Hawke.

Hollywood is facing new challenges with the rise of AI performers, like Tilly Norwood, a digitally created actress supported by agents. At the same time, there’s growing interest in recognizing more unconventional candidates for awards.

Indy the Dog is an unexpected awards contender, which raises a bigger question: should animals even be eligible for Oscars? If they were, would they compete with humans, or have a separate category? And if an animal *won*, who would accept the award – the trainer or the owner? Adding animals to the competition seems like it would create more problems than solutions, and I suspect some actors wouldn’t be thrilled about losing to a dog.

It’s fun to imagine a dog winning an Oscar, but this is probably just clever marketing. Animals have delivered memorable performances in films like *The Artist* (with Uggie the Dog) and *The Banshees of Inisherin* (featuring Jenny the Donkey), but it’s a stretch to compare their work to the emotional depth human actors can achieve. Still, it’s a charming idea that might attract more viewers.

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2025-10-11 04:08