Renowned filmmaker Judd Apatow has expressed strong disagreement with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ recent decision to categorize Greta Gerwig’s film ‘Barbie,’ starring Margot Robbie, as an adapted screenplay rather than an original creation.
Apatow, known for his work on films like ‘Knocked Up’ and ‘This Is 40,’ took to Twitter to voice his sentiments, stating that it is “insulting to the writers” to suggest they were working from pre-existing material when crafting the screenplay for ‘Barbie.’ He emphasized that there was no existing material or story, only a clear creative box.
Despite the filmmakers campaigning for an original screenplay nomination, reports indicate that ‘Barbie’ will be contending for a best adapted screenplay nod in the upcoming Oscar race. Apatow’s criticism underscores the contention surrounding the classification of films, particularly those featuring pre-existing characters.
Various awards bodies and voting groups have distinct rules for determining screenplay categories, with films like ‘Toy Story 3,’ ‘Borat 2,’ ‘Before Sunset,’ and ‘Before Midnight’ having been previously classified as adapted screenplays despite featuring pre-existing characters.
The decision to place ‘Barbie’ in the adapted screenplay category is believed to stem from the fact that the iconic characters, Barbie and Ken, were based on pre-existing dolls from the toy company Mattel. The Writers Guild of America, however, has designated ‘Barbie’ as an original work, maintaining its categorization for the upcoming WGA Awards.
Greta Gerwig, who made history as the first woman to direct a billion-dollar movie, has received three Oscar nominations in her career. Notably, ‘Lady Bird’ (2016) earned nominations for original screenplay and directing, while ‘Little Women’ (2019) was recognized in the adapted screenplay category.
As the official Oscar nomination voting approaches on January 11, eligible members of the Writers Branch executive committee will cast their votes for ‘Barbie’ in the adapted screenplay category. The controversy surrounding the film’s classification adds an intriguing layer to this year’s awards season.
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