The red carpet premiere for Widows has been canceled due to the wildfires raging across California.
A 20th Century Fox spokesperson confirmed the news shortly before the event was to take place Wednesday at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles.
Widows — a crime thriller starring Liam Neeson and Viola Davis — is one of the films scheduled to screen at the 2018 AFI Fest, a week-long festival celebrating “international cinema from modern masters and emerging filmmakers.”
Although the Steven McQueen-directed movie will debut as planned, its stars will not walk the red carpet. The decision was made out of respect for Californians impacted by the devastating Camp Fire and Woolsey wildfires.
The Woolsey Fire ravaging parts of Southern California has claimed the lives of three people, according to published reports. On Wednesday evening, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) said 56 residents perished in Northern California’s Camp Fire.
More than 100 people are still missing in Butte County, where the Camp Fire erupted on Thursday, Nov. 8.
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Given the widespread destruction across California, 20th Century Fox decided to cancel the red carpet event.
“In light of the recent devastating events throughout California, Twentieth Century Fox has cancelled its planned red carpet for Widows at AFI FEST. The screening of the film will continue as planned, and the studio will match the cost of its post-screening event with a donation to the United Way of Greater Los Angeles Disaster Relief Fund,” the spokesperson said, according to Deadline.
“Our hearts are with all those impacted, and our thanks go out to all the first responders working tirelessly to help everyone in need.”
Widows isn’t the only film affected by the fires —Destroyer, Instant Family, The Ballad of the Buster Scruggs, and Bird Box also canceled their red carpet premieres.
Widows premieres in theaters nationwide on Nov. 16.
