Entertainment · Film · 4 hrs ago
Alexander Payne Sued Over Alleged Copyright Infringement in The Holdovers
Screenwriter Simon Stephenson is suing director Alexander Payne in federal court over The Holdovers.
Stephenson alleges the Oscar-nominated film copied his script Frisco, which appeared on the industry’s Black List of admired unproduced scripts in 2013.
The complaint says Payne read Frisco in 2013 and 2019, then made the film in 2022 after changing its setting from a children’s hospital to a boarding school.
The lawsuit also names screenwriter David Hemingson, producer Mark Johnson and three companies: Miramax, Focus Features and Universal Home Entertainment.
Stephenson alleges that 46 incidents match between the works, with 24 occurring in the same order.
The case puts the film’s originality at issue, though the allegations have not been established in court.
Screenwriter Simon Stephenson sued Alexander Payne and other parties, alleging that The Holdovers copied his unproduced screenplay Frisco.
The lawsuit says 46 incidents correspond between the scripts, with 24 occurring in the same order.
Stephenson alleges Payne read Frisco in 2013 and 2019 before elements of it appeared in The Holdovers.
Payne denied the allegations at the Sarajevo Film Festival, calling the claim “the stupidest thing in the world.”
The suit also names screenwriter David Hemingson, producer Mark Johnson, Miramax, Focus Features and other corporate entities.
- Who
- Screenwriter Simon Stephenson sued director Alexander Payne and other defendants, including The Holdovers screenwriter David Hemingson.
- What
- Stephenson alleges The Holdovers copied his unproduced screenplay Frisco. The defendants are accused of copyright infringement and plagiarism.
- When
- The suit was filed on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. Stephenson says Payne read Frisco in 2013 and 2019.
- Where
- The lawsuit was filed in federal court.
- Why
- Stephenson alleges that elements of Frisco were copied into The Holdovers. Payne denied the allegations.
Simon Stephenson
Alexander Payne
Alleged copying
Simon Stephenson
Stephenson alleges that The Holdovers copied Frisco, including its story structure and individual exchanges.
Alexander Payne
Payne denied the allegations, calling the claim “the stupidest thing in the world.
The scripts
Simon Stephenson
The lawsuit says 46 incidents correspond across the scripts, with 24 in the same order.
Alexander Payne
Payne has said he had a rough idea for The Holdovers for years, inspired by the 1935 French film Merlusse.
Stephenson wrote Frisco, drawing on his experiences as a pediatrician.
According to Stephenson, Payne read Frisco and passed on making it.
Stephenson says Payne read Frisco again and passed on it.
Stephenson took his allegations to the Writers Guild of America, which referred him to a lawyer.
Stephenson sued Payne and other defendants in federal court.
- Plaintiff
- Simon Stephenson
- Screenplay at issue
- Frisco
- Matched incidents alleged
- 46, including 24 in the same order
- Black List ranking
- Frisco ranked third
- Defendants named
- Alexander Payne, David Hemingson, Mark Johnson, Miramax, Focus Features and other corporate entities
2 sources
What people are saying
The Defendants built their film using ‘Frisco’ as their blueprint.
the stupidest thing in the world