The Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG) nominations were originally scheduled to be announced in person on Wednesday morning, but the event has been cancelled due to severe wildfires and strong winds affecting the Los Angeles area. In light of the dangerous conditions, including destructive wildfires in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods, the nominations will now be announced via press release, replacing the planned live event that was supposed to be hosted by actors Joey King and Cooper Koch.
The wildfires, which have been raging across parts of Los Angeles and its outskirts, have caused widespread damage, with homes and structures in high-risk areas being consumed by the flames. This catastrophic situation prompted a change in the SAG nominations announcement format to ensure the safety of all those involved.
Despite the shift in how the nominations will be revealed, the 31st annual SAG Awards ceremony is still set to proceed. Kristen Bell will be hosting the event, which is scheduled to be streamed live on Netflix on February 23 at 8 pm Eastern. The ceremony will take place at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles, continuing the tradition of honoring outstanding performances in film and television. Last year’s event was hosted by Idris Elba, and this year’s ceremony promises to bring together top talent from across the entertainment industry.
The SAG Awards are viewed as an important precursor to the Oscars, with many actors and films receiving nominations here before being considered for the Academy Awards. Nominations in categories such as Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Ensemble often serve as key indicators for which performances and films might be in the running for Oscar gold.
Due to the ongoing wildfires, several other entertainment events have also been impacted. Notably, the premieres of the highly anticipated Robbie Williams biopic Better Man, Jennifer Lopez's new film Unstoppable, and Universal Pictures' upcoming horror movie Wolf Man have all been cancelled or postponed. The fires have caused widespread disruption across the city, forcing organizers to make tough decisions about public gatherings and events.
As the situation continues to unfold, it is clear that the impact of the wildfires is being felt across various sectors of the entertainment industry, with numerous premieres and events being affected. The SAG Awards will certainly be a major focal point for many as they await the final list of nominations, which will be announced through the press release later this week.
