Oscars Adapted Screenplay Nominees Blend Literary Prestige and Cinematic Flair

As the 2025 Oscars approach, the adapted screenplay category is shaping up to be a battleground for literary prestige and cinematic ambition. Leading the pack is "Hamnet," Maggie O'Farrell's acclaimed novel adapted by O'Farrell and director Chloé Zhao. The film is praised for its fusion of Zhao's visual poetry and O'Farrell's emotional precision, creating a captivating cinematic experience.

In contrast, Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another" draws inspiration from Thomas Pynchon's "Vineland," channeling the filmmaker's trademark sense of chaos and longing into a layered reflection on social idealism and decay. Meanwhile, "Bugonia" reimagines the 2003 South Korean dark comedy "Save the Green Planet" through the lens of Yorgos Lanthimos' distinctive vision, with screenwriter Will Tracy twisting the absurdist horror into a darker, more satirical register.

Elsewhere, the "little film that could" this season is "Train Dreams," an adaptation of Denis Johnson's novella by Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar. This lyrical portrait of isolation and loss has ardent defenders who could help carry it far. Additionally, Craig Brewer's "Song Sung Blue," based on a real-life story tied to the music industry, could bring a soulful, populist touch to the category, aided by standout performances from Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson.