The 2021 Oscars have been rescheduled for the first time since a 1981 assassination attempt against President Ronald Reagan because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the delay on Monday and said the awards night would move from Feb. 28 to April 25, marking the first postponement in 40 years. Academy President David Rubin and Academy CEO Dawn Hudson noted the effect the pandemic has had on the industry in a joint press release.
“For over a century, movies have played an important role in comforting, inspiring, and entertaining us during the darkest of times. 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,” they said.
The eligibility window for films at the 93rd Oscars has also been extended until Feb. 28.
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which was set to open in December, is now being planned for an opening around the time of the new Oscars date.
“We find ourselves in uncharted territory this year and will continue to work with our partners at the Academy to ensure next year’s show is a safe and celebratory event that also captures the excitement of the opening of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures,” said ABC Entertainment President Karey Burke.
The last time the award ceremony was delayed was in 1981 when it was postponed for 24 hours after would-be assassin John Hinkley Jr. shot Reagan outside of the Washington Hilton Hotel.
As of Monday, the United States has reported more than 2.1 million cases of COVID-19 and about 116,000 deaths.
