Academy's diverse new class includes Idris Elba, America Ferrera

Idris Elba, John Boyega, Nate Parker, Marlon Wayans, America Ferrera and Alicia Vikander have all been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as part of a new diverse class of 2016.

Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs announced the 683 invitees Wednesday. "(We) know they view this as an opportunity and not just an invitation, a mission and not just a membership," her statement said.

The new class, a record in size, is 46% female and 41% people of color.

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Increasing diversity has been a major initiative for the group since the outcry of #OscarsSoWhite in January, when the Academy nominated an entirely white slate of actors for a second year in a row. 

Boone Isaacs and Academy CEO Dawn Hudson announced a goal of doubling the number of women and minority members by 2020.

The new class, should each invitee accept the honor, would raise the Academy's percentage of female members from 25% to 27% and members of color from 8% to 11%. The 2016 class includes 283 new international members from 59 countries.

"This class continues our long-term commitment to welcoming extraordinary talent reflective of those working in film today," Boone Isaacs wrote. "We encourage the larger creative community to open its doors wider, and create opportunities for anyone interested in working in this incredible and storied industry."

Among actors, the new members include Mahershala Ali, Chadwick Boseman, Rose Byrne, Enrique Castillo, Morris Chestnut, Vivica A. Fox, Oscar Isaac, Dennis Haysbert, O'Shea "Ice Cube" Jackson, Michelle Rodriguez, Gabrielle Union, Damon Wayans Jr. and Emma Watson.

For the director's branch, new members include Creed director Ryan Coogler, Beasts of No Nation director Cary Joji Fukunaga, Conjuring director James Wan and Belle director Amma Assante.

Music branch new members include Mary J. Blige, Sia Furler and Will.i.am.

For a full list of new members, click here.

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Hudson told USA TODAY in January that the Academy is aiming to get its membership "closer to our moviegoing population and our United States population." She added that the Academy's board of governors was "impatient" to make changes.

Shawn Edwards, co-founder of the African-American Film Critics Association, applauded the announcement.

"We're getting a chance to see (the Academy's) game plan play out. We're starting to see it happen," says Edwards. "It's a clear sign that the Academy is serious about making its population reflect the nation's population. We're heading in that right direction." 

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Pete Hammond, awards columnist for the industry website Deadline.com, says he's impressed by the "high standards" for new members. He also cited the international outreach for the new class (including 80-year-old British director Ken Loach) and the number of women directors invited.

“Of the 90 new directors, over 50 of them are women,” Hammond says. “This is huge for this branch to have this many new women members for what used to be a boys' club.”

He points out that the Academy is still overwhelmingly white male, so efforts to diversify will have to continue.

“It’s going to be a long slog,” Hammond says. “But this could affect actual Oscar votes even this year. We don’t want to see #OscarsSoWhiteIII, but ultimately it’s a democracy and it's up to the individual Academy members.”