Screenwriter Sues Payne Over 'The Holdovers' Copying Claim

Screenwriter Simon Stephenson has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against director Alexander Payne, accusing him of plagiarizing Stephenson's screenplay, "Frisco," to create the Oscar-winning film The Holdovers.

The lawsuit, filed in California federal court, asserts that Payne transposed major elements from "Frisco" into The Holdovers after reading Stephenson's script in 2013 and again in 2019. Stephenson claims that Payne and his collaborators added superficial changes to conceal the alleged copying.

Stephenson's complaint points to significant similarities, including the core premise of a grumpy adult supervising teenagers and specific narrative details. He seeks unspecified damages and a court order to prevent further distribution of The Holdovers.

Payne has previously acknowledged drawing inspiration from the 1935 French film Merlusse for The Holdovers' boarding school setting. However, the lawsuit argues that while Merlusse may have influenced the premise, the screenplay's structure and specific expressions were borrowed from "Frisco."

This legal action comes amidst a trend of increased copyright lawsuits filed by creators, though winning such cases remains challenging. Past high-profile cases have often resulted in defense verdicts or settlements, indicating a high bar for proving infringement.