"Plagiarism Controversy: 'Luca' Writer Accuses 'The Holdovers' of Theft"

The writer of 'Luca' and 'Paddington 2', Simon Stephenson, has accused Alexander Payne's 'The Holdovers' of plagiarizing his 2013 screenplay 'Frisco', claiming "line-by-line" theft. Stephenson alleges that Payne had previously received the script for 'Frisco' in 2013 and 2019, before collaborating with writer David Hemingson on 'The Holdovers'. Despite engaging in discussions with the Writers Guild of America, Stephenson was directed to pursue a lawsuit as the most viable option. 'The Holdovers' is up for five Academy Awards, including Best Original Screenplay, but the current status of the case remains unclear. Payne and Hemingson declined to comment, while representatives for both parties did not immediately respond to requests for comment.