Oscars announce new members added to improve diversity

Maybe #OscarsSoWhite won't trend for a third year in a row. More than 600 new voting members, many of them artists of color, have been added to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences' roster.

PAST: Critics blast lack of diversity among Oscar nominations

Sylvester Stallone, left, earned a Golden Globe and was Oscar-nominated for his role in "Creed." The movie's star, Michael B. Jordan, is among hundreds of new Academy members added to improve diversity.

"We're proud to welcome these new members to the Academy, and know they view this as an opportunity and not just an invitation, a mission and not just a membership," said Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs in a statement.

New members include

Ice Cube

, whose "Straight Outta Compton" was among the projects and casts seen as snubbed last go-round;

Tessa Thompson

and her “Creed” co-star

Michael B. Jordan

(

Sylvester Stallone

won a best-supporting Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar for his role in "Creed");

Chadwick Boseman

, who portrayed

James Brown

in “Get On Up” and is set to star in a future Marvel movie, “Black Panther;”

Vivica A. Fox, Gabrielle Union, Anika Noni Rose, Damon Wayans, Jr

.,

 Mahershala Ali, Anthony Anderson, Loretta Devine

and

John Boyega

.

"This class continues our long-term commitment to welcoming extraordinary talent reflective of those working in film today," Boone Isaacs said. "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."

The lack of diversity among nominations became a main theme of this year's awards event.

Oscars host Chris Rock posted this photo of himself refining his monologue shortly before the awards ceremony began.