“The Holdovers” Faces Plagiarism Accusation Ahead of Oscars
The anticipation for the Oscars is reaching its peak, with the prestigious awards ceremony just a few hours away. While many expected the absence of Messi, the dog from “Anatomy of a Fall,” to be the talk of the town, a new controversy has taken center stage. “The Holdovers,” a film with five Oscar nominations, including Best Film and Best Original Screenplay, is now facing a credible accusation of plagiarism.
It seems that Hollywood can’t escape drama, even on its biggest night. Reports have emerged that the script for “The Holdovers,” directed by Alexander Payne and written by David Hemingson, bears striking similarities to an unproduced screenplay titled “Frisco.” Simon Stephenson, known for his work on “Luca” and “Paddington 2,” claims that scenes from both scripts are almost identical.
Stephenson presented his case to the Writers Guild of America (WGA) in January, providing documents that compare scenes from “Frisco” and “The Holdovers.” According to Variety, one of these documents has now been made public, revealing Stephenson’s allegations. The document states, “The meaningful entirety of the screenplay for THE HOLDOVERS has been copied from the FRISCO screenplay by transposition.” It goes on to claim that everything from the story, structure, sequencing, scenes, dialogue, characters, arcs, relationships, theme, and tone has been replicated line-for-line.
What makes this accusation even more damning is Stephenson’s claim that Payne had access to the script for “Frisco” before collaborating with Hemingson on “The Holdovers.” The alleged timeline suggests that Payne received the script in 2013 and again in 2019. If proven true, this raises serious questions about the integrity of the film’s creative process.
Stephenson has been engaged in discussions with the WGA for several months, seeking resolution for his claims. However, with the Oscars just hours away, the controversy surrounding “The Holdovers” threatens to overshadow any potential wins the film may achieve. It is predicted that the film has a strong chance of winning at least two major awards tonight, but these victories may be tainted by the plagiarism allegations.
As the 96th Oscars ceremony unfolds tonight, all eyes will be on “The Holdovers” and its chances of success. Euronews Culture will be providing live coverage of the event, keeping viewers updated on the latest developments. Whether this accusation proves to be a mere bump in the road or a significant stain on the film’s reputation remains to be seen. One thing is for sure – the Oscars will not be lacking in excitement this year.
Additional sources: Variety