Alexander Payne Sued for Plagiarism Over ‘The Holdovers’ by ‘Luca’ Screenwriter

Screenwriter Simon Stephenson is suing director Alexander Payne for copyright infringement regarding the script of The Holdovers. Stephenson alleges that the film was based on his own unproduced screenplay set at a children's hospital. Following a press conflict before the 2024 Academy Awards, Stephenson initially brought these allegations to the Writers Guild of America. However, the union stated it could not adjudicate the matter, leading the screenwriter to pursue legal action against Payne for plagiarism.