Controversy Surrounds The Holdovers Script Ahead of Oscars
The script for Alexander Payne’s film, The Holdovers, a contender for Best Original Screenplay at this year’s Oscars, is facing allegations of plagiarism. Written by David Hemingson, the film stars Paul Giamatti as a teacher looking after a teenager during Christmas break.
Writer Simon Stephenson has come forward claiming that The Holdovers script bears a striking resemblance to his own unproduced screenplay titled Frisco. Stephenson has sent documents to the Writers Guild of America (WGA) containing side-by-side comparisons of scenes from both scripts.
One particular similarity highlighted in the documents is a scene where the protagonist is berated by a politician. Stephenson alleges that The Holdovers script copied the entire story, structure, and key elements from Frisco.
Representatives for the WGA, Payne, Hemingson, and Stephenson have been reached out to for comments on the matter. This controversy has come as a shock to many as The Holdovers was expected to be a strong contender in the Best Original Screenplay category.
In a previous interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Payne and Hemingson discussed the film’s origins, but this recent development has cast a shadow over its awards season success. As the Oscars draw near, the outcome of this controversy remains uncertain. Stay tuned for updates on this story.
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