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The coronavirus outbreak, which was categorized as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, has continued to spread, with the number of people diagnosed with COVID-19 now rising to more than 150,000 cases worldwide. In the United States, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency on March 13, and many states and local governments have been issuing their own emergency declarations as well. In response to the outbreak, and the CDC’s recommendation of “social distancing” as a means of slowing the spread of the disease, a growing number of public events and productions have been canceled, and no industry has been left untouched.
The entertainment world has seen TV productions come to a halt, movie premiere dates delayed, and major events like E3, SXSW, and WonderCon all postponed or canceled in response to the news. The sports world has also been heavily impacted, as leagues like the NBA, NHL, and MLB have all postponed or canceled their seasons of gameplay, and the NCAA has now canceled all of its Division I men and women’s basketball tournaments. There is also growing uncertainty surrounding the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan, San Diego Comic-Con, and the Cannes Film Festival. Furthermore, many theme parks, including Disney and Universal’s locations, are being closed down for the month of March in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.
Read on for an updated roundup of all of the entertainment-related events that have been affected by the outbreak so far, and bookmark this page for additional updates to come.
JUMP TO: Television, Movies, Sports, Events
Disney+ Marvel Shows
On March 10, Disney+ shut down production on its Marvel series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which stars Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan, because the Czech Republic placed restrictions on travel and events, and closed its schools due to COVID-19 concerns. There is no word yet on if the show will revisit Prague to finish shooting.
On March 14, Variety reported Marvel Studios paused production on the rest of its Disney+ series, which includes Loki and WandaVision. For shows currently in production, the work will continue remotely.
Power Book II: Ghost and Power Book III: Raising Kanan
With a surge in cases of confirmed coronavirus in New York, Starz has put its two Power spin-offs, Power Book II: Ghost and Power Book III: Raising Kanan, on hiatus, Deadline reports. Effective as of March 13, the hiatus will last at least one week. All the scripts on the two shows have already been completed.
AMC Shows
Deadline reports that Fear the Walking Dead will be halting production, while the flagship The Walking Dead is pushing its pre-production back by about a month, to April 13. Upcoming comedy Kevin Can F— Himself‘s production will be pushed back approximately the same amount of time. The Walking Dead writers room will remain open with writers working remotely on the new season.
FX Productions
Multiple sources report that FX has halted production on Snowfall, and new series Y for two weeks. Atlanta filming is on hold indefinitely while Fargo Season 4 production has been postponed.
Apple TV+
In the wake of President Donald Trump announcing a national emergency in the U.S. due to the spread of COVID-19, all Apple TV+ series currently in production have been put on hold and filming has suspended, Deadline reports. This includes second seasons of The Morning Show, Servant, See, and For All Mankind, as well as new series Lisey’s Story, Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet, and Foundation.
Warner Bros. TV
Warner Bros. TV shut down production on many of its shows currently in or about to begin production on March 13. The studio didn’t name any of the postponed productions, but according to Deadline, they include Young Sheldon, The Bachelorette, Supergirl, and many more. Several of the studio’s shows had already halted production, including Supernatural, The Flash and Riverdale, which suspended production on Wednesday after a crew member came into contact with a coronavirus patient.
“With the rapidly changing events related to COVID-19, and out of an abundance of caution, Warner Bros. Television Group is halting production on some of our 70+ series and pilots currently filming or about to begin,” a studio spokesperson said Friday in a statement to Entertainment Weekly. “There have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on any of our productions, but the health and safety of our employees, casts and crews remains our top priority. During this time, we will continue to follow the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control as well as local officials and public health professionals in each city where our productions are based.”
KJ Apa, Camila Mendes, Cole Sprouse, and Lili Reinhart, Riverdale
Pilot Season
Both NBC Universal and Disney Studios have halted production on all of their TV pilots being filmed for the networks’ upcoming Upfronts season, according to Deadline. While all of the major networks have canceled their live presentations in May, delaying the pilot filming schedule could jeopardize the video presentation plans as well.
Sony Productions
Sony halted European production on Wheel of Time. The adaptation of Robert Jordan’s fantasy series was shooting in in Prague. The crew is on standby, in hopes that they will be able to resume production in a couple weeks. Stateside, Sony TV has pulled the plug on The Goldbergsand its spin-off Schooled, per Variety.
Hallmark Channel
Crown Media has halted production on Hallmark Channel’s popular daytime lifestyle program Home and Family as well as the network’s upcoming slate of original movies, Deadline reported March 13. Home and Family, which films in Los Angeles, will go dark for at least two weeks starting Monday, March 16. Repeats will air while the show is on hiatus.
Foundation
The upcoming Apple TV+ and Skydance Television drama series Foundation has suspended production in Ireland, Deadline reported on March 12. The series, which stars Lee Pace and Jared Harris, is an adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s sci-fi novels. The move follows an announcement from Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on Thursday that set limits on the size of mass gatherings in order to slow the spread of coronavirus. According to Deadline, Foundation is Ireland’s largest-scale production ever.
NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, Bull, Dynasty, The Good Fight, and The Neighborhood
CBS TV Studios also reportedly stopped production on several of its popular dramas, including NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, Bull, Dynasty, and The Good Fight, Deadline reported March 12. Per their reporting, some of the shows were invited to finish their current episode, where possible, but there may be more halts ahead for other CBS TV Studios productions. Some programs which have an episode or two left on their season may discontinue shooting and wrap for the season. Meanwhile, The Neighborhood will film its final episode for the season next week without a live studio audience.
In a statement provided to Deadline, CBS TV Studios said, “Over the past few days, we began making decisions to temporarily postpone production on some of our pilots and current series. At this time, we are evaluating situations on a case-by-case basis, informed by the best information from health experts and government officials. Some productions may continue as long as they do not involve live audiences and/or environments that are considered at risk. The safety and welfare of our production team is our top priority.”
Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., Chicago Med, Law & Order: SVU, New Amsterdam, FBI, Angelyne, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and Superstore
NBCUniversal has also pressed pause on production of TV shows across its production subsidiaries, including Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., Chicago Med, Law & Order: SVU, FBI, New Amsterdam, Angelyne, and The Kelly Clarkson Show. According to Deadline, the stop order affects almost three dozen shows.
In a statement provided to the site on March 12, an NBCUniversal spokesperson said, “The safety and health of our cast, crew and employees is our top priority. Where possible, we are pausing production for two weeks as a precautionary measure, following which we will reassess and determine an appropriate start date. In some cases, we are accelerating plans to wrap up physical production.” Per Deadline’s reporting, the One Chicago shows may not return to production again this spring to complete the remaining episodes for this season.
Meanwhile, late on March 13, actress America Ferrara confirmed production on Superstore‘s fifth season has also been halted. “Today is unexpectedly my last day shooting on Superstore for this season,” the actress, who was set to depart the show at the end of Season 5, announced in an Instagram story. “We are shutting down production, as they are all shows on the Universal lot.”
A source revealed to TV Line on March 14 that the NBC show will not be able to film its planned Season 5 finale, and the 21st episode that wrapped on Friday will now serve as the final episode of the season. As such, it’s unclear how Ferrera’s character’s story will be wrapped, but the actress hinted she might return in Season 6 to give her character a proper goodbye.
Giacomo Gianniotti and Ellen Pompeo, Grey’s Anatomy
Disney Television Studios, including Grey’s Anatomy
Grey’s Anatomy, produced by ABC Studios, has shut down production for at least two weeks, according to Deadline. The show had reportedly just wrapped Episode 21 of their 25-episode season. Showrunner Krista Vernoff and fellow executive producers Debbie Allen and James D. Parriott announced the shutdown, saying, “This decision was made to ensure the health and safety of the whole cast and crew and the safety of our loved ones outside of work, and it was made in accordance with Mayor Garcetti’s suggestion that we not gather in groups of more than 50.”
As of March 14, Disney Television Studios has also halted production on a number of other shows, according to Deadline. The list includes: Nat Geo’s Genius: Aretha (produced by Fox 21), Fox’s Empire (20th Century Fox TV) and The Resident (20th Century Fox TV), FX’s Pose (Fox 21), USA’s Queen of the South (Fox 21), and ABC’s American Housewife (ABC Studios). On March 13, ABC also suspended production on General Hospital.
Live with Kelly and Ryan, Dr. Phil, and Tamron Hall
Per Variety, The talk shows Live with Kelly and Ryan, Dr. Phil, and Tamron Hall have all decided to film without studio audiences, following in the footsteps of Today, The View, The Talk, and NY-based late night talk shows.
America’s Got Talent, American Ninja Warrior, and The Price is Right
Deadline reports that American Ninja Warrior and The Price Is Right has suspended filming for the next two weeks. Meanwhile, America’s Got Talent has canceled remaining tapings in front of live studio audiences that were supposed to be taped from March 13 to March 17.
Netflix Originals
As of March 13, Netflix had shut down all TV and film productions in the U.S. and Canada, including the streamer’s flagship series Stranger Things, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The decision came one day after production on Grace and Frankie‘s final season was put on hold, per Deadline. “To ensure the health and safety of our cast and crew, Skydance has temporarily suspended filming for Grace and Frankie, the series,” the company said in a statement. Deadline reports that productions filming outside North America, like The Witcher, which is prepping for its second season, are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
One Day at a Time
ViacomCBS will be firing up the laugh tracks for many of its shows as it has ordered several series that typically film before live studio audiences to shoot on closed sets. Pop TV’s One Day at a Time has already been shooting before empty seats since Tuesday, MTV’s Ridiculousness will do the same beginning Thursday, and Comedy Central’s Lights Out with David Spade and Tosh.0 will exclude audience members starting Monday.
Late-night shows
After several New York-based late night shows announced their plans to eliminate live audiences, many are now suspending production altogether. Per Deadline, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and daytime’s The Wendy Williams Show will pause production. In a statement, NBC said, “We will continue to monitor the situation closely and make decisions about future shows as we get closer to the start of production.” The Tonight Show will tape an original episode on Thursday, but Late Night will merely post a “Closer Look” segment on digital media. Both are expected to pause through their originally schedule hiatus until March 23. Meanwhile, The Wendy Williams Show is on hold “indefinitely.”
Jimmy Kimmel Live was originally expected to proceed with production, sans a live audience, but following its most recent episode, which saw former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg guest-hosting before a mostly empty studio, the network announced it would suspend production on the late-night show. In a statement provided to Deadline, ABC said, “Jimmy Kimmel Live has determined it is in the best interest of the staff and crew to suspend production on the show beginning Monday, March 16. We will continue to monitor this and hope to be back on the air with new shows Monday, March 30.”
Full Frontal With Samantha Bee,Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, and The Daily Show With Trevor Noah, and Late Late Show with James Corden are still poised to film without a studio audience starting Sunday, March 15. As of now, NYC staple Saturday Night Live will continue taping with an audience when it returns on March 28, as well as LA-based A Little Late with Lilly Singh.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
The Talk
On March 12, CBS announced that The Talk would begin filming without a live audience starting on Monday, March 16. “At this time, no disruptions to the on-air schedules are expected. We will continue to monitor the situation, as the health and safety of our audience and production staffs is our top priority,” read a statement from the network obtained by Deadline.
Celebrity Race Across the World
Production on this BBC One travel reality show was postponed on March 12 as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. The show, a spin-off of Race Across the World, will feature four celebrities who race a friend or family member around the globe without air travel or other modern elements like cell phones or credit cards.
In a statement to Deadline, a BBC Spokesperson said, “Celebrity Race Across the World involves contestants travelling across a number of different countries, and given that official advice in relation to specific countries is continually changing in line with the spread of Covid-19, Studio Lambert has decided to delay production on this series in consultation with and supported by the BBC. We will continue to review all productions on a case by case basis following the latest news and advice from the Foreign Office, World Health Organisation and Public Health England.”
Little Fires Everywhere Premiere
TV Guide has confirmed that Hulu has opted to cancel the premiere event of its new series Little Fires Everywhere, starring and executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington. The premiere screening and party were scheduled to take place March 12 in Los Angeles.
The network released a statement regarding the cancellation, saying, “As you are all aware, the current state of affairs has altered the daily lives of many people, including our cast and crew. After hearing from many of you, and out of an abundance of caution, we are canceling tomorrow’s Little Fires Everywhere premiere screening and celebration. We are extremely proud of this series and can’t wait to share it with you when it debuts on Hulu on March 18. Thank you for your understanding.”
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
On March 11, producers of Ellen, the most popular daytime talk show, revealed its plans to forego a live studio audience, beginning Monday, March 16. The show had already filmed episodes to air through Friday, March 13.
“With the rapidly changing nature of the COVID-19 outbreak, and out of concern for our audience attending The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Telepictures will suspend audience attendance during tapings effective Monday, March 16,” a spokesperson for Telepictures said in a statement to Deadline. “This temporary measure will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and will not impact the production schedule of Ellen.“
Today
Today is one of several New York City productions to go without a live studio audience. NBC News announced on March 11 that the morning news program would forego its standard audience.
“The safety of our guests and employees is our top priority,” the statement read. “As a precautionary measure, starting tomorrow, Thursday, March 12, we have decided to suspend live audiences for TODAY and TODAY with Hoda & Jenna & Friends. Per guidance from New York City officials, the company is hoping to do its part to help to decrease the rate of transmission in our communities. Our shows will continue filming on their regular schedule, and currently, there will be no impact on air dates.”
The View
Like other programs with live audiences, The View is also being affected by the coronavirus known as COVID-19. The popular ABC talk show is now filming without a studio audience, a first for the program. “This is unprecedented, this has never happened on The View,” Whoopi Goldberg said, noting that even after the show returned following 9/11, it still featured a live audience.
On Thursday, March 12, Variety reported that co-host Joy Behar will be taking at least a week off from the show to protect herself from the spread of the virus.
The coronavirus situation is still developing and for the first time ever at @TheView, we made the decision not to have a studio audience. We look forward to our fans returning to join us in the studio in the future! pic.twitter.com/BNXK098W0s
— The View (@TheView) March 11, 2020
Survivor
Survivor just kicked off Season 40 a few weeks before the coronavirus was deemed a pandemic, but the coronavirus has stalled production on Season 41 and Season 42. Entertainment Weekly obtained a letter host and executive producer Jeff Probst sent to Survivor crew members that confirmed the show would not begin filming the new seasons on March 18 in Fiji. The production has been postponed until approximately May 19, according to the letter, but that is subject to change with regards to progress in containing the COVID-19 outbreak. The delay may not affect the show’s premiere plans, however, because Probst also said that when filming is cleared to begin, the plan is still to film both seasons back to back.
Amber Brkich Mariano, Jeff Probst, Survivor: Winners at War
NeXt
A crew member who worked on Fox’s upcoming science-fiction drama NeXt has tested positive for the coronavirus. Per Variety, the studio and production company are now investigating which members of the cast and crew may have been exposed to the patient before the show wrapped production in Chicago in early March.
Trish Regan Primetime
The cable news show Trish Regan Primetime is going on hiatus, the Fox Business Network announced March 13. The network is also benching its show Kennedy, which airs an hour after at 9 p.m. Although the Fox Business network said both shows are coming to a halt due to the demand of coronavirus coverage, the decision also comes just days after Regan accused Democrats and the “liberal media” of exaggerating the dangers surrounding the spread of the coronavirus to make President Trump look bad.
Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune
TV’s most iconic game shows will be filming without live audiences as well. Variety reported on March 9 that both shows would be filming through mid-April and will go without a live audience for the filming stretch. The decision was made not only to protect audience guests but also Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek, who is immunocompromised due to his Stage 4 pancreatic cancer diagnosis.
The Bachelorette
Production on The Bachelorette Season 16, which will feature Clare Crawley as the Bachelorette, has not been suspended in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. However, Variety reported on March 2 that the show initially planned to shoot portions of the upcoming season in Italy, but those plans have since been changed in the wake of the epidemic. Another, as-yet-unnamed international destination may be chosen instead.
Chris Harrison and Clare Crawley, The Bachelor
The Amazing Race
CBS’s hit reality competition series shut down production on Season 33 on Feb. 28. The series had already filmed three episodes and saw contestants visit Scotland and England. It’s currently unknown when production will resume.
The Amazing Race Season 33 Production Shut Down Amidst Corona Virus Concerns
JUMP TO: Television, Movies, Sports, Events
Disney Productions
Disney paused production on forthcoming films including The Little Mermaid, Home Alone, Peter Pan & Wendy, Shrunk, Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel, Marvel’s Shang-Chi, and Guillermo del Toro’s Nightmare Alley starring Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. Deadline reported that, while no cases of COVID-19 were found on sets, Disney paused production out of an abundance of caution, with far-reaching ramifications for many of the projects. Rob Marshall’s The Little Mermaid adaptation was set to start filming during the third week in March London; Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel was put on indefinite hiatus before a shoot in Ireland, sending the director into an editing room to assemble what bit of footage he was able to gather over the few weeks it was in production. As of March 13, it’s still slated to be released in the U.S. on Christmas.
Universal Productions
Universal has also paused production on its live-action films. Per Variety, production on Jurassic World: Dominion, Flint Strong, and the untitled Billy Eichner project, which was scheduled to begin production this month, have all gone on hiatus. It is unclear for how long or if this will affect the films’ releases dates. Jurassic World 3 is scheduled to be released in June 2021.
Sony Productions
Sony has halted production on three of its films, according to Deadline: the Kevin Hart–Woody Harrelson comedy The Man From Toronto; horror film Shrine; and the World War II movie The Nightingale starring sisters Elle and Dakota Fanning. Prep was halted on The Man From Toronto, which is filming Atlanta, and production on Shrine has been halted for four weeks in Boston. Meanwhile, The Nightingale was in pre-production, and the delay should not affect the film, which is scheduled to be released at Christmas.
The Batman
Production on The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson as the titular superhero has been shut down for two weeks, as detailed by Variety. The movie has been filming in London and was scheduled to begin shooting in Liverpool soon, but Warner Bros. has decided to shut down production during the location change. It is unknown at this time if this will have an effect on the film’s release date, which is currently scheduled for June 25, 2021.
Vengeance
Blumhouse has suspended production on its thriller Vengeance, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The movie, which was two weeks into production, was written by The Office‘s B.J. Novak. It is his directorial debut.
The Secret Garden
Studiocanal has moved the release date of its adaptation of The Secret Garden from April 3 to August 14. In a statement provided to Deadline, the company explained, “A film that most certainly appeals to a family and older audience, the studio has has taken the decision to move out of a potentially high-risk period as the coronavirus situation continues to escalate.” The film stars Colin Firth and Julie Walters and is based upon the classic Frances Hodgson Burnett book of the same name.
Mulan, New Mutants, and Antlers
Despite having its world premiere in Los Angeles earlier this week, Disney has postponed the theatrical release of the live-action Mulan from its original March 27 release date, according to multiple reports. Disney-owned studios 20th Century Studios and Searchlight pictures also delayed the releases of New Mutants (due April 3) and Guillermo Del Toro‘s Antlers (April 17), respectively.
Bros
Production on Bros, a rom-com co-written by Billy Eichner and Nick Stoller, who is set to direct, has been delayed, according to The Wrap. The film was scheduled to begin shooting on April 13.
Fast and Furious 9
The premiere of F9, which was scheduled to be released May 22, has been pushed back almost a year. The North American premiere will now be April 2, 2021, with international debuts rolling out throughout that month. Per Variety, Universal Studios made the decision due to the number of theaters closed internationally. Considering roughly 75 percent of of the franchise’s gross comes from international markets, Universal didn’t believe the movie could turn a profit with all theaters in Italy, South Korea and China currently shut down.
A statement posted to Twitter confirmed the news, adding, “While we know there is disappointment in having to wait a little while longer, this move is made with the safety of everyone as our foremost consideration. Moving will allow our global family to experience our new chapter together.”
#F9 pic.twitter.com/agQAFNLm9w
— #F9 (@TheFastSaga) March 12, 2020
A Quiet Place II
The release of A Quiet Place II, the sequel to the hit 2018 horror film, will be delayed as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. The film was originally scheduled for release in the U.K. and Australia on March 19 and in North America on March 20.
Director John Krasinski confirmed the news in an Instagram note to fans. “One of the things I’m most proud of is that people have said our movie is one you have to see all together,” Krasinski wrote. “Well due to the ever-changing circumstances of what’s going on in the world around us, now is clearly not the right time to do that. As insanely excited as we are for all of you to see this movie … I’m gonna wait to release the film til we CAN all see it together.”
The Lovebirds
After previously delaying A Quiet Place Part II, Paramount has pulled the romantic comedy The Lovebirds, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film was slated to be released April 3 and stars Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae. A new date has not yet been set. Meanwhile, the film Blue Story has also been delayed.
Baz Luhrmann’s untitled Elvis Presley film
While on location in Australia for Baz Luhrmann‘s untitled Elvis Presley film, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were both diagnosed with coronavirus, the couple revealed on social media on March 11. According to social media posts from their sons, Hanks and Wilson are doing well. However, production on the film has been temporarily halted in the wake of the news. As detailed by the Daily Mail, Luhrmann sent a letter to the cast and crew, writing, “We request all cast and crew stay at home today and not come to work. All work activity on the production is cancelled and will not resume until further notice.”
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway
Peter Rabbit fans will have to wait a bit longer for the sequel film. Sony decided to push back the release of Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway from early April to Aug. 7, Deadline reported on March 10. The film was originally supposed to debut in select spots around Europe in March before coming out in the U.S. in April to line up with the Easter holiday.
Slay the Dragon
Slay the Dragon, Magnolia’s new documentary about a group of local voters and ordinary citizens fighting back against gerrymandering in 2018 midterms elections, is delayed a month due to coronavirus. The film will now open on April 3 in theaters instead of its original March 13 release date and will also be available on VOD and digital platforms in the wake of the outbreak, according to Variety.
No Time to Die
For those hoping to see Daniel Craig back in action as Agent 007, you’re in for a bit of a wait. The film’s official release date was pushed back several months, the film’s official Twitter account confirmed. No Time to Die will now be released on Thursday, Nov. 12 in the U.K. and Wednesday, Nov. 25 worldwide. Even so, Craig still showed up to host Saturday Night Live as scheduled and even offered fans a fake clip from the film.
The film will be released in the U.K. on November 12, 2020 with worldwide release dates to follow, including the US launch on November 25, 2020.
— James Bond (@007) March 4, 2020
Red Notice
Netflix’s forthcoming heist flick starring Dwayne Johnson was reportedly considering alternate shooting locations amid a spike in new cases in Italy, according to a March 1 report from Deadline. While most of the film will be shot in Atlanta, a portion of the project was expected to be shot on location in Italy. In addition to Johnson, the movie also stars Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot.
Mission Impossible 7
The seventh installment of the Tom Cruise-fronted franchise halted production on a planned three-week shoot in Venice on Feb. 24. “Out of an abundance of caution for the safety and well-being of our cast and crew, and efforts of the local Venetian government to halt public gatherings in response to the threat of coronavirus, we are altering the production plan for our three-week shoot in Venice, the scheduled first leg of an extensive production for Mission: Impossible 7,” a spokesperson for Paramount told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement. “During this hiatus we want to be mindful of the concerns of the crew and are allowing them to return home until production starts. We will continue to monitor this situation, and work alongside health and government officials as it evolves.”
JUMP TO: Television, Movies, Sports, Events
Masters Tournament
The Augusta National Golf Club announced on March 13 that the Masters Tournament, which was scheduled for April 9-12, would be postponed. “Ultimately, the health and well-being of everyone associated with these events and the citizens of the Augusta community led us to this decision,” Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club said in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. “We hope this postponement puts us in the best position to safely host the Masters Tournament and our amateur events at some later date. We will continue to work with the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Office of the Governor, the Georgia Department of Public Health, the City of Augusta and all other local authorities. We are grateful to all of these entities for their exceptional efforts and guidance.”
PGA Tour
On March 13, the PGA Tour announced that it would cancel the Players Championship and other events, including the Valero Texas Open. In a statement posted to social media, the organization explained, “We have pledged from the start to be responsible, thoughtful, and transparent with our decision process. We did everything possible to create a safe environment for our players in order to continue the event throughout the weekend and we were endeavoring to give our fans a much-needed respite from the current climate. But at this point — and as the situation continues to rapidly change — the right thing to do for our players and our fans is to pause.”
PGA TOUR statement on the cancellation of THE PLAYERS Championship and events across all Tours through the Valero Texas Open. pic.twitter.com/IxU8LyewlY
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) March 13, 2020
NCAA Basketball Tournaments
The NCAA announced on March 12 that all Division I men and women’s 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as winter and spring NCAA championships, will be canceled. In a statement shared on social media, NCAA president Mark Emmert and the board of governors said, “This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to the spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities.” The cancellation of the championships was a change from the previous plan, which Emmert had announced on March 11, to limit attendance to staff and family at both the men’s and women’s tournaments. March Madness was originally scheduled to begin March 17.
NCAA cancels remaining winter and spring championships: https://t.co/qzKAS4McEI pic.twitter.com/G6XreZx35E
— NCAA (@NCAA) March 12, 2020
Major League Baseball
After consulting with the 30 MLB teams and the MLB Players Association, commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. announced on Thursday, March 12 that Spring Training games have been suspended and the start of the 2020 regular season will be delayed by at least two weeks. Guidance for team workouts will be relayed to the clubs in the coming days, but all forthcoming Spring Trianing games have been canceled and the 2020 World Baseball Classic Qualifier games in Tuscon, Arizona have been postponed indefinitely.
Statement from Major League Baseball: pic.twitter.com/0bWS5VTRPu
— MLB (@MLB) March 12, 2020
National Hockey League
The NHL announced on March 12 that it will not be dropping any pucks effective immediately. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement that following the NBA’s decision to suspend its season, the NHL will do the same as many teams share locker rooms and stadiums with the NBA.
“The NHL has been attempting to follow the mandates of health experts and local authorities, while preparing for any possible developments without taking premature or unnecessary measures. However, following last night’s news that an NBC player tested positive for coronavirus — and given our leagues share so many facilities and locker rooms and it now seems likely that some member of the NHL community would test positive at some point — it is no longer appropriate to try and continue to play games at this time,” the statement, posted to Twitter, read. The hope is that play will resume again “as soon as it is appropriate and prudent.”
The NHL pauses the 2019-20 season. pic.twitter.com/bCi776ZFqX
— NHL (@NHL) March 12, 2020
Major League Soccer
After Sports Illustrated reported that Major League Soccer would suspend its season until further notice, starting March 12, the league issued a statement on social media confirming the news. In a tweet, MLS revealed that it “has suspended match play for 30 days, effective immediately, as the league continues to assess the impact of COVID-19 with its medical task force and public health officials. At the appropriate time, the league and clubs will communicate plans for the continuation of the 2020 season and update the status of league events.”
Major League Soccer Suspends Season for 30 Days pic.twitter.com/P0HEPmsnkx
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 12, 2020
NBA Season
CBS Sports reported that the NBA has opted to suspend the current season of play due to coronavirus concerns after a Utah Jazz player, Rudy Gobert, tested positive for the virus. “The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight’s schedule of games until further notice,” the NBA said via a press release. “The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.”
Rudy Gobert
ATP, WTA tennis tours
The Association of Tennis Professionals, the governing body of men’s professional tennis, and the Women’s Tennis Association, the governing body of women’s professional tennis, are both suspending ongoing tennis tours due to health concerns over COVID-19, they announced on March 12. The ATP has declared a six-week suspension of play, meaning no tournaments will be held up to the week of April 20. The decision goes into effect immediately, with ongoing ATP Challenger events in Kazakhstan and South Africa suspended. The WTA’s Miami Open and Volvo Car Open, scheduled for late March and early April, respectively, will not be held. The WTA cited COVID-19 health concerns, as well as travel restrictions from Europe into America made by President Trump as factors.
The ATP has announced a six-week suspension of the men’s professional tennis tour due to public health & safety concerns over COVID-19.
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 12, 2020
NASCAR
On March 12, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez announced plans to postpone the March 22 NASCAR race at Homestead-Miami speedway. Gimenez’s statement, obtained by NBC Sports, said that the race “is postponed at this time. NASCAR officials will decide whether or not to hold the race without fans.” Later that day, a reporter for the Sports Business Journal tweeted that NASCAR is expected to proceed with races at Homestead and Atlanta without spectators. Meanwhile, the National Hot Rod Association has also postponed a portion of the Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals.
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 12, 2020
JUMP TO: Television, Movies, Sports, Events
Razzies
Despite early indications that the 2020 Golden Raspberry Awards would continue on as planned, this year’s Razzies had to be canceled as a result of the coronavirus. The event, which was scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 14, had to be shuttered as a result of the City of Los Angeles’ ban on gatherings of more than 50 people, which was instituted on March 12. In a statement provided to The Hollywood Reporter, Razzies co-founder John Wilson said, “Tonight’s live Razzie ceremony had to be canceled/postponed because the Mayor of Los Angeles shut down all city-owned venues where more than 50 people could gather, including our site, The Barnsdall Theatre. Without a hall, we could not proceed with the show, but we are hoping to have a video to disseminate by tonight (Saturday, March 14) – Perhaps even by what had been our original ‘curtain time’ of 8 p.m. Obviously, if there is no live show, there is nothing to be streamed, either.”
Six Flags and Knott’s Berry Farm
Following suit of other theme parks around the country, all Six Flags parks and Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California, have also temporarily shut down in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
— Six Flags (@SixFlags) March 13, 2020
— Knott’s Berry Farm (@knotts) March 13, 2020
SeaWorld
SeaWorld will be closing all of its parks beginning Monday, March 16, per the company’s official statement. They will remain closed at least through the end of the month.
An update on park operations during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. For more information please visit https://t.co/VJihdaNges pic.twitter.com/M4vJSPfZ5J
— SeaWorld (@SeaWorld) March 13, 2020
Emmys FYC Events
The Television Academy suspended its live Emmys For Your Consideration events on March 12 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement provided to Deadline, the organization explained, “FYC events will be livestreamed or recorded without an audience. This requirement is being implemented for the safety and health of ALL participants and is in effect for ALL Emmy For Your Consideration Events (throughout the country) during the entire FYC season (through June 14, 2020).”
Hollywood Studio Tours
Deadline reports that Sony, Paramount, and Warner Bros. are halting their studio tours until further notice as a precautionary measure amid the coronavirus outbreak.
New York ShadowCon
The New York fan convention that was set to reunite the cast of Shadowhunters has been postponed to September 11 – 13. The convention’s official Twitter account confirmed the cast will still be in attendance for the new date.
COVID-19 UPDATE | Due to escalating Coronavirus concerns, we have made the difficult decision to POSTPONE #nyshadowcon to the weekend of September 11 – 13, 2020. 📅
ALL THE ACTORS ARE STILL ATTENDING.
Please see the following link for FAQs:https://t.co/mgIADiBxdf pic.twitter.com/pa90kRzycj
— Heroes of the Shadow World (@nyshadowcon) March 12, 2020
Tribeca Film Festival
The Tribeca Film Festival, which was supposed to take place April 15-26 in Manhattan, has been postponed in the wake of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s announcement that events of 500 people or more are banned due to the spread of the coronavirus. The event coordinators plan offer updates about rescheduling and refunds via the Tribeca Film Festival website.
Disney Parks in the United States and Paris, Disney Cruises
After announcing that it would close Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, effective March 14, Disney has now chosen to close Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, as well as Disneyland Paris Resort in France. In a statement provided to Deadline, the company said, “In an abundance of caution and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of our theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Paris Resort, beginning at the close of business on Sunday, March 15, through the end of the month.”
Hotels will remain open at both locations until further notice. Disney is also suspending its cruise line departures, beginning on March 14. Disney previously confirmed that Disneyland would be closed through the end of the month and that the company is working with those who want to cancel or change their reservations for this time period, as well as giving refunds for hotel bookings during the closure period.
Universal Studios
Like Disneyland, Universal Studios in Universal City, Calif., will close temporarily beginning Saturday, Mar. 14, but the theme park remains optimistic about reopening soon, even going so far as to target Saturday, Mar. 28 as the day to open its gates once again. Universal CityWalk, an open-air mall connected to Universal Studios, will remain open at this time.
WonderCon
This year’s WonderCon Anaheim will be postponed until a later date, Comic-Con International announced in a statement Thursday. WonderCon had been scheduled for April 10-12 and the date for rescheduling has yet to be announced. As for San Diego Comic-Con, the organization revealed it is still deciding how to proceed with the biggest comic convention of the year. The company added that it will be processing refunds for WonderCon Anaheim in the coming days.
Is San Diego Comic-Con 2020 Canceled Due to Coronavirus?
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
The 2020 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony has also been moved due to the spread of the coronavirus, TV Guide has learned. The event was scheduled to be broadcast live for the first time on HBO on May 2 at 8 p.m. ET. It has been postponed to an undetermined future date.
Upfronts Presentations
ViacomCBS announced on Thursday, March 12 that it will not hold a live Upfronts presentation in May. Instead, the company will roll out its programming and schedule for the 2020-21 TV season for advertisers and press through a video presentation that will be posted to digital platforms on May 13.
“CBS has a very good story to tell, and this year we need a unique way to tell it,” said Kelly Kahl, president of CBS Entertainment in a statement. “We’re confident that this alternate format for this year can deliver what we’ve come to expect from a CBS Upfront – entertainment, stars, strategy and the first look at our new primetime series.”
NBC will also be following suit with a video Upfronts rather than a live presentation in New York. Their presentation will be delivered to digital platforms on May 11. “At this moment in time, we can embrace a new future that puts our audiences and our partners first. This year’s upfront presentation will ensure everyone’s safety, while allowing us to give fans and marketers a preview of the upcoming season,” Linda Yaccarino, chairman advertising and partnerships at NBCUniversal, said in a statement obtained by TV Guide.
WarnerMedia is also following suit and announced on March 12, via Deadline, “The health and safety of the advertising community, our employees and production partners is our absolute priority, so we will alter our plans for this year’s Upfront presentation. We have the technological and creative means to showcase our unified WarnerMedia/Xandr message through a unique video experience and will do just that on May 13.”
The CW and Fox also have decided to ditch a live presentation in May in an abundance of caution.
“In light of recent developments and the current guidelines being set by health officials regarding COVID-19, The CW Network has decided to forego its traditional live upfront presentation scheduled for Thursday May 14 at City Center Theater in New York, as we join the community’s efforts to ensure that everyone’s health and safety is our top priority,” The CW said in a statement. “As a result, we are currently exploring alternative and innovative ways of communicating The CW’s overall strategy, showcase our new and returning programming and present our upcoming fall schedule to advertisers, press, the industry and our fans. We will be sharing additional details as we move forward.”
Fox issued their own statement as well:
“While we always look forward to seeing our brand and agency partners at the Beacon Theatre, the health and well-being of our clients, talent and colleagues is our top priority,” said Fox’s president of advertising sales, Marianne Gambelli. “We are reimagining our presentation to engage our clients using a new format that will highlight the quality content the industry expects from Fox. As the leading broadcast network this season, we have so much to build on and share, and we look forward to doing that in this new way.”
Disney, which owns ABC and has a controlling stake in Hulu, has also canceled the ABC and Hulu live upfront presentations. “Production plans are already underway to develop two star-studded and innovative streaming events, showcasing the breadth and depth of Disney’s rich portfolio and infrastructure,” Disney said in a statement.
NBC, CBS, The CW, Fox, and WarnerMedia join AMC Networks, A+E Networks, Roku, and YouTube on the list of networks that have canceled or altered their Upfronts plans.
Broadway
New York’s cultural scene is facing a number of closures and cancellations as well. Broadway going dark with an immediate month-long closure, with theaters staying dark until Easter, on April 12. In a statement provided to PlayBill, Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League, said, “Our top priority has been and will continue to be the health and well-being of Broadway theatregoers and the thousands of people who work in the theatre industry every day, including actors, musicians, stagehands, ushers, and many other dedicated professionals. Broadway has the power to inspire, enrich and entertain, and together we are committed to making that vital spirit a reality. Once our stages are lit again, we will welcome fans back with open arms so that they can continue to experience the joy, heart, and goodwill that our shows so passionately express every night.”
Meanwhile, The Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center, the New York Philharmonic, and Carnegie Hall have canceled all events through the end of March. The Met has also suspended rehearsals.
The Democratic Primary Debate
In addition to featuring no live studio audience for the upcoming debate between Democratic presidential hopefuls Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, the venue of the debate will also be moved from Arizona to Washington, D.C., the Democratic National Convention announced on March 12. Furthermore, one of the previously announced moderators for the event, Univision’s Jorge Ramos, has dropped out of the event after potentially becoming exposed to coronavirus.
2020 Democratic Primary Debate Between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders Moved Due to Coronavirus
TCM Classic Film Festival
TCM announced on March 12 that it has canceled the TCM Classic Film Festival for this year. In a statement posted to its website, TCM announced, “The health and safety of attendees are always our priority at any TCM event. In light of the increasing public health concerns related to coronavirus and after consultation with our internal and external partners, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 TCM Classic Film Festival.” TCM host Ben Mankiewicz said in an accompanying YouTube video, “We didn’t feel we could ask all of you in good conscience to come to Los Angeles for the festival.” He also confirmed that festival passholders will receive a 100% refund for their purchases and that exhibitors who were expected to attend have been asked to return for the 2021 TCM Classic Film Festival instead.
CinemaCon
The National Association of Theatre Owners canceled CinemaCon 2020 on March 12. The event would have taken place between March 30 and April 2 in Las Vegas and would have featured distributors and exhibitors presenting upcoming films as a preview for the summer season. In a statement posted to social media, the organization explained, “This year, due to the travel ban from the European Union, the unique travel difficulties in many other areas of the world & other challenges presented by the Coronavirus pandemic, a significant portion of the worldwide motion picture community is not able to attend. While local outbreaks vary widely in severity, the global circumstances make it impossible for us to mount the show that our attendees have come to expect.”
Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards
Deadline reported that Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards, previously scheduled for Sunday, March 22 at the Forum in Inglewood, CA, will not occur. The decision to postpone the show was made “in consideration of the safety and well-being of every person involved with the show” according to a statement from Nickelodeon. The network has not yet chosen a date for the rescheduled event.
PaleyFest LA 2020
PaleyFest LA 2020 has been postponed indefinitely amidst coronavirus concerns. The festival was set to honor shows like The Boys, Schitt’s Creek, and Outlander among others. A spokesperson for the Paley Center for Media confirmed the news on Wednesday, March 11 and said tickets would be honored at the yet-to-be-determined later dates.
“Based on the most recent news and out of an abundance of concern, we have made the difficult decision to postpone this year’s PaleyFest. While we were looking forward to presenting another stellar lineup of PaleyFest events, the safety of our event participants, guests, and staff is the highest priority,” read the statement sent to TV Guide. “We are exploring options to reschedule the festival and all ticket purchases will be honored for the new dates.”
Noah Reid, Dan Levy, Schitt’s Creek
GLAAD Media Awards
The annual gala hosted by GLAAD to celebrate LGBTQ activists, leaders, and allies has also postponed due to coronavirus concerns. The event “will no longer occur [March 19] following new guidance from the New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo around COVID-19,” the organization said in a statement to Variety.
Quibi Launch Event
The streaming service set to debut in April from Jeffrey Katzenberg and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman has canceled their LA launch event “out of an abundance of caution” amid the growing threat of COVID-19, according to multiple reports. Quibi was set to have a launch party in Los Angeles on April 5, the day before the official launch of the service on April 6.
ACE Comic-Con Northeast
ACE Comic Con canceled its upcoming Northeast convention, which was to be held March 20-22 in Boston, Massachusetts. Actors Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Tessa Thompson, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ewan McGregor, and Keri Russell, among others were scheduled to attend. Event organizers are now working to reschedule the event for a later date and attendees can expect to be refunded within 30 days. Previously, Emerald City Comic Con was canceled on March 6.
NAB Show
The annual Las Vegas conference hosted by the National Association of Broadcasters was set to start April 18 but was canceled on Wednesday amidst COVID-19 concerns.
“In the interest of addressing the health and safety concerns of our stakeholders and in consultation with partners throughout the media and entertainment industry, we have decided not to move forward with NAB Show in April. We are currently considering a number of potential alternatives to create the best possible experience for our community,” Gordon H. Smith, president and CEO of the event, said in a statement on the National Association of Broadcasters website.
E3 2020
The Electronic Entertainment Expo has been canceled due to concerns about the coronavirus, as detailed by GameSpot. The annual video game conference, one of the biggest of the entire gaming industry, was scheduled to take place in Los Angeles in June, but the Entertainment Software Association is reportedly now exploring options for an online conference sometime in the summer instead.
Cannes Film Festival
As other major entertainment gatherings are being shuttered in the wake of coronavirus, all eyes are on France to see if the prestigious Cannes Film Festival will go on as planned in May. The film fest’s president, Pierre Lescure, has said he is “reasonably optimistic” the festival will continue, but he has also said that the event will be canceled if the pandemic situation does not improve. If Cannes is canceled, per Variety, the losses will not be covered by insurance, even if the event is canceled by order of the French government. France has already banned public gatherings with 1,000 people or more, which led to France’s March TV event Series Mania being canceled.
On March 12, the festival offered an update to Deadline, saying, “The festival staff members are currently working to prepare the event scheduled, as usual, the second week of May (May 12-23).” However, they are planning to readdress its status next month. “For now, no date has been set for a decision [on whether to cancel]. The festival will announce its selection on April 16th and by the end of April we will evaluate in which configuration the festival will take place.”
Emily Beecham, Cannes Film Festival
Coachella and Stagecoach
There’s also be a six-month postponement of one of music’s biggest festivals, per The Hollywood Reporter. Coachella had been slated to take place April 10-12 and 17-19 in Indio, California, but has now moved to Oct. 9-11 and 16-18, if organizers can secure the deal. Lana Del Rey, Travis Scott, Rage Against the Machine, Big Sean, Lil Nas X, and Frank Ocean had been scheduled to perform, but it is unknown if they will return in October. Additionally, GoldenVoice has also moved Coachella’s sister country music festival, Stagecoach, from April 24-26 to Oct. 23-25, according to multiple reports. Stagecoach is also held in Indio, California.
RuPaul’s DragCon LA
Organizers called off the convention, which celebrates drag queens and their fans as well as musicians, celebrities, and retail. It had been scheduled to take place May 1-3 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, but promoters released a statement on the event’s official website stating, “Unfortunately, there’s no way for anyone to know what the situation will be like in May. Due to that uncertainty, and out of an abundance of caution, we’ve decided that it’s in the best interest of the talent, staff, and attendees to cancel RuPaul’s DragCon LA 2020.” Promoters, with the help of Eventbrite, will be issuing refunds to ticket holders through March 17. Ticket holders will receive confirmation emails from Eventbrite when refunds have been issued.
SXSW
The Austin pop culture festival, which is half music showcase and half entertainment palooza, was officially canceled for the first time in 34 years on March 6. Although many of the major players that were going to have showcases had already pulled out — Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Amazon Studios, Netflix, Apple, and Starz had all decided to skip this year — the festival was still going to go on as scheduled before the city of Austin declared a state of emergency due to the outbreak, and SXSW was forced to cancel all events. “This situation evolved rapidly, and we honor and respect the City of Austin’s decision,” read a statement from the festival’s organizers. “We are committed to do our part to help protect our staff, attendees, and fellow Austinites.” The men and women behind the event are currently exploring options to reschedule, and are hoping to find a way to provide a virtual SXSW experience as soon as possible. You can read the full statement here.
Hasbro Baby Yoda merch
Don’t worry; the coronavirus has not delayed production of The Mandalorian, but anybody hoping get their hands on Hasbro’s new range of Baby Yoda toys might be in trouble. On March 4, Hasbro reported delays in production due to manufacturing partners being shut down longer than expected, according to CNN.
The Child, The Mandalorian
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
All eyes are on the coronavirus outbreak’s potential impact on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, since Japan has been seriously affected by the outbreak as well. As detailed by the BBC, Japan’s Olympic minister Seiko Hashimoto indicated that there may be a postponement of the Games to later in the year, although he also said, “We are doing all we can to ensure that the Games go ahead as planned.” The Olympics are still officially scheduled to be held from July 24 to Aug. 9 in Tokyo.
Keep checking back for more updates.