Ahead of the Academy Awards, 'The Holdovers' director Alexander Payne is accused of ripping off the screenplay from a 'Black List' script by screenwriter Simon Stephenson.
- Mar 10, 2024
AceShowbiz - On the eve of the 96th Academy Awards, Best Picture nominee "The Holdovers" faces allegations of plagiarism from screenwriter Simon Stephenson.
Stephenson, known for his works on "Luca" and "Paddington 2", sent emails to the Writer's Guild of America alleging that "The Holdovers" director Alexander Payne read his script for "Frisco" in 2013 when it was featured on the industry's "black list" of highly regarded scripts.
According to Stephenson, "The evidence the Holdovers screenplay has been plagiarized line-by-line from 'Frisco' is genuinely overwhelming." He meticulously compared the two films, finding similarities in scenes, sequences, and dialogue.
Stephenson claims that only five elements from "The Holdovers" are not present in his "Frisco" script, including a backstory about plagiarism. He also alleges that Payne had access to his script on two occasions before "The Holdovers", which has only David Hemingson credited as the screenwriter, entered development.
The WGA referred Stephenson to a Los Angeles law firm, advising him that a lawsuit may be the best option under the circumstances. "The Holdovers" is nominated for five awards at the Oscars, including Best Original Screenplay.
Payne and Hemingson declined to comment on the allegations. Payne has previously won two Academy Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay for "Sideways" and "The Descendants".
Stephenson's claims cast a shadow over "The Holdovers" as it prepares for the Oscars ceremony. The allegations have not yet been investigated by the WGA, and it remains to be seen how they will affect the film's chances of winning an award.
