Los Angeles, California – A recent report has surfaced outlining allegations from British screenwriter Simon Stephenson, claiming that the Oscar-nominated screenplay for Focus Features’ “The Holdovers” bears striking similarities to his own 2013 Black List spec script, “Frisco.” Stephenson argues that director Alexander Payne likely had access to his script at some point.
“The Holdovers” has a sole credited screenwriter in David Hemingson, a former entertainment lawyer turned TV writer and producer. This feature marks Hemingson’s first produced film, following his work on popular TV shows such as “Just Shoot Me!,” “Kitchen Confidential,” “How I Met Your Mother,” and “Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23.”
Efforts to reach out to Focus, WGA West, and representatives for Payne, Hemingson, and Stephenson have been unsuccessful thus far.
Stephenson is known for his work as a co-writer on Pixar’s “Luca” and receiving an “additional material” credit for “Paddington 2.” His novel, “Set My Heart to Five,” is currently in development with Working Title, with Edgar Wright set to direct for Universal.
Variety’s report suggests that Stephenson’s script was circulating before Payne began work on “The Holdovers.” The 2013 Black List described “Frisco” as a story about a pediatric allergist facing a divorce who learns life lessons from a terminally ill teenager during a conference trip. In comparison, “The Holdovers” revolves around a history teacher caring for a troubled student.
While plagiarism claims concerning spec scripts are typically not investigated by the WGA, Variety’s report indicates that Stephenson’s assertion garnered some attention. It is common for studios to reject spec scripts to avoid potential legal issues.
The report also reveals a series of emails indicating that Payne was either familiar with or had read Stephenson’s script before deciding to pass on it in December 2019. Shortly after, Payne collaborated with Hemingson on what would become “The Holdovers.” Stephenson’s memo comparing the two scripts further lends weight to his claims.
Despite not taking a screen credit, Payne has hinted at his involvement in shaping the “Holdovers” script, as seen in his statements at the Thessaloniki Film Festival in November.
As the Oscar nominations approach, Hemingson and “The Holdovers” are in the running for the Best Original Screenplay award, competing against other contenders like “Anatomy of a Fall,” “Maestro,” “May December,” and “Past Lives.”