Screenwriter Simon Stephenson Files Copyright Lawsuit Over ‘The Holdovers’ Script

Screenwriter Simon Stephenson has initiated legal action against director Alexander Payne, writer David Hemingson, and production entities including Miramax and Focus Features. The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, alleges that the screenplay for the film “The Holdovers” was improperly based on Stephenson’s own unproduced script titled “Frisco.”

Allegations of Intellectual Property Infringement

Stephenson, a veteran screenwriter known for his work on projects such as “Paddington 2,” contends that his 2012-13 script “Frisco”—which focused on a pediatrician at a children’s hospital—served as the structural blueprint for “The Holdovers.” Key points of the complaint include:

• Substantial Similarity: The suit claims there are 46 “matched incidents” between the two works.
• Prior Access: Stephenson alleges that his representatives provided the “Frisco” script to Alexander Payne in 2013 and again in 2019. At the time, Payne reportedly declined the project.
• The Transfer of Ideas: The legal filing suggests that narrative elements from “Frisco” were incorporated into “The Holdovers” through Payne’s creative collaboration with screenwriter David Hemingson.

Background and Context

Prior to the litigation, Stephenson sought assistance from the Writers Guild of America in 2024. The union indicated it could not adjudicate the dispute and directed him to seek legal counsel. Alexander Payne has previously dismissed these claims, describing them at the Sarajevo Film Festival as “the stupidest thing in the world.”

As this matter is currently before the court, no findings have been made regarding the merits of the allegations. Interested parties can monitor court dockets for future filings in this case.