UPDATE: The 2021 Oscars have officially been delayed to April, with the eligibility period extended.
The 93rd Oscars ceremony might get pushed back all the way to April because of the coronavirus pandemic. The ongoing pandemic has caused issues for the entertainment industry since February, with the major changes hitting in March. That was when movie theaters across the United States shut down indefinitely, thus preventing several highly-anticipated films from being released on time. At this point, almost every movie from mid-March until well into the fall has been either delayed to a later date or has made the decision to be released directly onto streaming or VOD. The full effects of the pandemic are far-reaching and will likely have lasting impacts.
Despite the Oscars not being scheduled until February 28, 2021, the annual ceremony has already been forced to adjust its practices because of the pandemic. Prior to this, films had to have a theatrical run in order to qualify for awards. However, with movie theaters being closed for several months now and films being delayed, those that would have been eligible within this year suddenly stood to lose that distinction. Because of that, the Academy has adjusted this year's eligibility rules so streaming movies without theatrical runs can be nominated.
There was already a chance the 2021 Oscars could get postponed, but now THR reports the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences' board of governors will officially decide whether or not to delay it by eight weeks. An eight-week move would push the Oscars all the way to April, making it the latest Oscars ceremony in several years. They will also decide whether to extend the eligibility window beyond December 31, 2020, as the pandemic is still not over and continues to impact movie releases. The board will gather via Zoom today to discuss all this.
This is not the first time the Academy has been forced to adjust their yearly ceremony because of a massive event, but it might be the first time so many changes have been taken into account. The Academy has signaled its intention to implement several new alterations over the next few years, such as the decision to guarantee 10 Best Picture nominees every year starting in 2022. This is one of their many new initiatives to promote greater diversity within both their ranks and their nominees.
As reluctant as the board of governors might be to push the Oscars back a whole eight weeks, it might be the best course of action here. Several theaters are hoping to reopen in July, but too many new cases of COVID-19 could force closures again. Additionally, film festivals that typically produce several Oscar contenders have either been cancelled or are debating whether to cancel. With so many factors uncertain, it seems likely that next year's Oscars will get delayed.
Source: THR