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Writer accuses ‘The Holdovers’ of plagiarizing his script, according to report
Variety published its article on the plagiarism accusations Saturday, a day before the Academy Awards, where "The Holdovers" was nominated for five Oscars, including original screenplay and best picture.
A screenwriter whose credits include “Luca” and “Paddington 2” has accused the creators of “The Holdovers” of plagiarizing his work in their screenplay, according to a Variety report.
Variety published its article on the plagiarism accusations Saturday, a day before the Academy Awards, where “The Holdovers” was nominated for five Oscars, including original screenplay and best picture.
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In its report, Variety cited an email from screenwriter Simon Stephenson to an official at the Writers Guild of America, and a second email to the WGA board. Stephenson argued that his screenplay “Frisco,” which he wrote in 2012, was copied to create “The Holdovers.” (“Frisco” has not been produced.)
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Both screenplays tell the story of a grumpy man in his 50s forced to watch over a teenager, according to documents published with the Variety report. “The Holdovers” centers on a boarding-school teacher (Paul Giamatti), while “Frisco” follows a doctor.
A document published with the article outlines similarities, including scenes in which each main character was “summoned to boss” and a description of both main characters as “unorthodox.” Plagiarism claims are not unheard of in Hollywood, but proving them is a different matter.
The Variety report described multiple attempts by Stephenson to draw the Writers Guild of America into his dispute with the film’s director, Alexander Payne, and its writer, David Hemingson.
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Stephenson argues that Payne “was sent and read my screenplay on two separate occasions prior to the offending film entering development,” according to an email cited in the Variety report, a claim bolstered in other correspondence obtained by Variety.
Stephenson declined to comment for the Variety story but confirmed the authenticity of the emails it cited. Payne and Hemingson also declined to comment to Variety, while the guild board did not respond.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
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