The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ board of governors will meet on Monday to answer a long lingering question involving a potential postponement of this year’s Oscar ceremony says The Hollywood Reporter.
The 93rd Oscars have been set for February 28th for quite some time. However the coronavirus pandemic has thrown 2020’s release slate into disarray.
With production and post-production work either delayed or stopped altogether on many films hoping to be in contention this year, and with Fall film festivals all now in question, a delay seems inevitable in order to avoid a possible cancellation.
The trade indicates the Academy’s 54 governors are likely to delay the ceremony’s date by as long as eight weeks, and to extend the annual eligibility window beyond December 31st.
The Oscars have been delayed three times before following a flood, MLK’s assassination and the attempted assassination of President Reagan. The eligibility window has also been extended beyond the traditional 12-month period once before.
The governors are not expected to determine the format for the ceremony yet, as they have time to see how the pandemic unfolds before making that call.
