The Oscars were supposed to take place on February 28, 2021, but have now been pushed back two months for April 25, 2021.
What We Know:
- The Oscars, one of TV and movie’s biggest nights, has been postponed for the first time in 40 years due to the pandemic. It was announced on Monday by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences that instead of the 93rd Oscars taking place on Feb. 28 as planned, the board of governors has decided the show will take place on April 25.
- Not only are the Oscars pushed back, but the eligibility window has also been delayed because of the virus. The new window was extended to the original date the Oscars were to air Feb. 28.
- “For over a century, movies have played an important role in comforting, inspiring, and entertaining us during the darkest of times,” Academy President David Rubin and Academy CEO Dawn Hudson said in a joint statement. “They certainly have this year. Our hope, in extending the eligibility period and our Awards date, is to provide the flexibility filmmakers need to finish and release their films without being penalized for something beyond anyone’s control.”
- The only time that the Oscars have ever been postponed was in 1981 because of an assassination attempt on former President Ronald Reagan. Even then, the ceremony was only delayed for 24 hours.
- The pandemic did not only delay the Oscars but it also impacted a lot of release dates for movies and TV shows. A Quiet Place Part II was supposed to be released on March 2, 2020, but has now been moved to Sept. 4, 2020. Some movies like Lovebirds and The High Note, which were supposed to be released in the movie theaters, have headed straight to streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
ABC and producers have not given any information on whether or not the pandemic will impact the format of the actual broadcast.
