The Pandemic that has swept across the world disrupted everything about the entertainment industry. Now it's looking like it'll have further impact, as Variety brings word that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is considering postponing the 2021 Oscar ceremony.
Key there is the word "considering" – no official decision has been made yet by the Academy, and there's still a chance the ceremony could still be held on its planned 28 February, 2021 date. The big question, of course, is what happens with Covid-19, whether it comes back in the autumn and whether people feel safe enough to return to such big gatherings as the Oscars by the time the event rolls around.
It's just the latest change for awards season, which has seen festivals cancelled, moved online or re-scheduled and altered rules, including the Academy allowing films that had planned a cinema release, but ended up streaming, allowed to bypass the usual hard and fast rules about showing on screens in New York and Los Angeles to qualify.
There's a good chance that even if the Oscars do happen, the rules may alter again to allow films that screen after the end of the year to be eligible. And these are far from the final changes we're likely to see in this crazy Corona-world.