Alexander Payne Sued for Copyright Over 'The Holdovers' Screenplay by Simon Stephenson

Acclaimed director Alexander Payne faces a copyright lawsuit filed by screenwriter Simon Stephenson, who claims the Oscar-nominated film 'The Holdovers' is based on his unproduced screenplay set at a children's hospital. Stephenson first raised the issue with the Writers Guild of America in 2024, but the union said it could not resolve the dispute and referred him to pursue legal action. The suit, filed Wednesday, alleges that key elements of 'The Holdovers' — including its boarding school setting, the relationship between a curmudgeonly teacher and a lonely student, and specific scenes — were lifted from Stephenson's script. Payne, who directed and co-wrote the film with David Hemingson, has not publicly commented. 'The Holdovers' was a critical and commercial success, earning five Academy Award nominations and winning Best Supporting Actress for Da'Vine Joy Randolph. This case could have significant implications for how Hollywood handles claims of script theft, especially when projects evolve from independent screenplays. As the industry awaits Payne's response, the lawsuit highlights ongoing tensions over intellectual property in the film business.