The Oscars could be pushed back in 2021 to allow the film industry to adapt to the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
The Academy is reportedly looking to push back the ceremony by about four months to around May or June 2021, from a planned February date, after the pandemic forced cinemas to close their doors and brought new releases to a halt.
The film industry would be struck hard if the Oscars didn't adapt as many would keep a hold on their flicks until eligible for the 2022 awards, The Sun reports.
An insider told the publication: "The ongoing coronavirus crisis has caused waves in the industry and has decimated plans for so many releases this year.
"The Oscars organisers have been in talks for weeks about whether the ceremony can go ahead given so many releases have been pushed back."
They added: "What they're proposing is pushing back the ceremony, which was going to take place on 28th February, to either late May or early June. Doing this means films forced to postpone their release dates can put them out later this year or in early 2021 knowing they will still be eligible for the Oscars."
It would be the first time this has happened in 93 years.
The source continued that studios have been informed so they can get to arranging the release dates for their latest offerings.
Mirror Online has contacted the Oscars for comment.
Among the delayed films has been James Bond's latest outing and Daniel Craig's last, No Time To Die.
Marvel's Black Widow, starring Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh and Rachel Weisz, has also been out on ice until the pandemic passes.
2020's Oscars saw Brad Pitt, Sir Elton John, Joaquin Phoenix, Renee Zellweger and Taika Waititi scoop up awards.
Bong Joon Ho's Parasite won the award for best film, and Little Women took home costume design.
Toy Story 4, meanwhile, was recognised as the best animated feature.
