The Oscars return Barbie to the rank of adapted screenplay, not original

The Academy refused the classification of the screenwriters’ union.

The glittery hit comedy Greta Gerwig, barbie, is considered an adapted screenplay by the Executive Committee of the Authors’ Section of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Warner Bros. had nevertheless campaigned in the “best original screenplay” category for the script signed by Gerwig And Noah Baumbach.

The decision sparked a debate on social media as the film was designated as an original work by the Writers Guild of America. This classification will remain for future WGA awards. However, each awards organization and voting group has its own terms and conditions.

Within the Academy’s Directors’ Directorate, the committee determines the eligibility criteria for films in the submitted categories and is not required to follow the decisions of the WGA. In the past, Moonlight (2016) was campaigned and labeled as an “original screenplay” by the WGA before being considered “adapted” by the Academy committee. The reason? Barry Jenkins’ film was based on a play abandoned, In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue.

First female director generated over a billion in box office revenue with barbie, Greta Gerwig competed for two Oscars during his career in the categories of best direction (Lady Bird, 2016) and best adapted screenplay (The Daughters of Doctor March, 2019).

The absence of barbie in the table of nominees for the original screenplay leaves a door open to other projects. Movies like Past Lives of Celine Song And The Holdovers ofAlexander Payne could benefit from it, while May December of Todd Haynes And Anatomy of a fall of Justine Triet appear as outsiders with their careers in the award ceremonies that precede the Oscars.

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