Must The Awards Show Go On? Academy Mulls Oscars Postponement

HOLLYWOOD, CA — Remember when the Academy Awards' biggest problems were ratings, diversity, hosting and long speeches? Now try and picture the red carpet via zoom. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is apparently having trouble picturing it too.

According to Variety, Academy officials are considering plans to postpone the Oscars, which are currently set for Feb. 28, 2021. While no one knows for sure what to expect from the coronavirus pandemic next winter, epidemiologists warn that American could face a second wave of the outbreak in the fall and winter. Rather than plan an awards show in the potential peak of the pandemic, officials are considering postponing the show amid a number of other options.

“It’s likely they’ll be postponed,” one sources familiar with the matter told Variety.

“It’s impossible to know what the landscape will be," Academy president David Rubin told Variet. "We know we want to celebrate film but we do not know exactly what form it will take.”

No official date changes have been announced, and the Academy has already made one unprecedented concession to the pandemic. Last month, the Academy waved a requirement that only films with theatrical releases could be considered for an Oscar this year due to the closure of movie theaters during the pandemic.

“The Academy firmly believes there is no greater way to experience the magic of movies than to see them in a theater,” Rubin said in a statement at the time. “Our commitment to that is unchanged and unwavering. Nonetheless, the historically tragic COVID-19 pandemic necessitates this temporary exception to our awards eligibility rules. The Academy supports our members and colleagues during this time of uncertainty. We recognize the importance of their work being seen and also celebrated, especially now, when audiences appreciate movies more than ever.”