The Academy Awards for the year 2021 could be postponed after the disruption caused across the world due to the coronavirus pandemic, as per latest reports. Scheduled to take place next year on February 28, the biggest night in the movie business world over will most "likely" be postponed, the report read.

Changes are set to be initiated as theatres have remained shut down around the world and in Hollywood for well over two months now, which has resulted in the indefinite postponement and delay in the release of summer blockbuster films including productions coming to a halt leaving the Academy to enforce new changes. As of now, no formal proposals or discussions regarding the event getting moved to a new or latter date have been made. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences too is yet to make an announcement and a statement is as well awaited in this regard.

The Academy had in a statement last month introduced a relaxation in the eligibility rules allowing films skipping a release this year to still be a contender at the Oscars. The Apex body of the Hollywood film industry had also at the time issued a warning saying, "additional adjustments to Academy rules, eligibility requirements and scheduling may be required." Furthermore, the statement said, "As previously announced, the 93rd Oscars telecast is scheduled to air on Sunday, February 28, 2021, on ABC. Any updated information about the show will be shared at a later time,".

At present, films are required to be released by December 31 to fall under the eligibility lines for the following year's Oscars event taking place around February or March. As of now, there is no clarity regarding the impact that would stem out of a delay, if any, on the ceremony and its eligibility rules. Said to be the grand finale of the awards season, the Oscars will be preceded with the Golden Globes in early January.

There is no word yet on other movie award shows and their plans to postpone the ceremonies despite many having brought in a relaxation in the eligibility rules. The Directors Guild of America and Producers Guild of America had issued statements on Tuesday saying streaming titles will be allowed this year for eligibility to contend. Furthermore, no changes in the plans have been brought into effect on Television's Primetime Emmys ceremony, which is still scheduled to take place in September while the lower-profile Daytime Emmys set to happen at a much earlier time had already been replaced to be a virtual event.