When settling in to watch the 96th Oscar Awards ceremony this time around, those intrigued by a touch of controversy needn’t wait with bated breath, as Alexander Payne’s acclaimed film “The Holdovers” has already stirred up the wrong kind of attention.
In a startling revelation by Variety, it has come to light that screenwriter Simon Stephenson, known for his work on “Luca,” has accused Payne, director of “The Holdovers,” of plagiarizing his unreleased script titled “Frisco.” According to evidence uncovered by the outlet, Stephenson shared his script with Payne on two occasions — first in 2013 and then again in 2019. Payne allegedly reviewed the script at least twice before ultimately passing on it in December 2019, stating that while he liked it, he wasn’t interested in directing or producing it.
This rejection came just before Payne enlisted David Hemingson to join the project, and together they began shaping the script for “The Holdovers.”
Stephenson provided a detailed comparison between the final scripts of “The Holdovers” and “Frisco,” asserting that the former is “forensically identical” to his work. He claims that the “meaningful entirety” of the plot of the Oscar-nominated film bears similarities in “story, characters, structure, scenes, [and] dialogue” to his own script.
According to reports, Stephenson filed a complaint with the Writers Guild of America on Jan. 12, 2024, via email, asserting that he can substantiate his claim “beyond any possible doubt.”
“The evidence that ‘The Holdovers’ screenplay has been plagiarized line-by-line from ‘Frisco’ is genuinely overwhelming — almost anyone who examines even a brief excerpt typically describes it as ‘brazen.'”
The storyline of both films mirrors each other closely — “Frisco” revolves around a weary children’s doctor who unexpectedly finds himself caring for his 15-year-old patient, while “The Holdovers” follows a discontented middle-aged school teacher forced to look after a 15-year-old student over the Christmas break.
While the WGA technically does not handle plagiarism allegations concerning spec scripts, they have been deliberating on the issue since Stephenson’s complaint and have been urged to conduct a comprehensive investigation. However, as of now, no concrete steps have been taken.
Despite the controversy, “The Holdovers,” penned by Hemingson and Payne, has already received numerous accolades, including a nomination for Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars. At the time of writing, neither Hemingson, Payne, nor the WGA has addressed the shocking report and its implications.
The question arises: Will this development sway the Academy’s decision, considering that “The Holdovers” is considered a strong contender in the original screenplay category alongside “Anatomy of a Fall”? The chances of a resolution before the Oscars ceremony are slim, and the impact on the film’s other nominations, including Best Actor nominee Paul Giamatti, remains uncertain. Whether the Academy is willing to take a liberal interpretation of the term “original” in this category is yet to be seen.
