The Writers Guild of America revealed nominations on Monday (Jan. 7) for the 71st annual edition of its awards, which will be held simultaneously in LA and Gotham on Feb. 17. The original screenplay nominees are: “Eighth Grade,” “Green Book,” “A Quiet Place,” “Roma” and “Vice.” The adapted screenplay contenders are: “BlacKkKlansman,” “Black Panther,” “Can You Ever Forgive Me?,” “If Beale Street Could Talk” and “A Star Is Born.”
Only scripts written under the guild’s guidelines or those of several international partners are allowed to vie for these awards. Among those ineligible for consideration this year are some of the leading Oscar contenders, including the original screenplays for “The Favourite” and “Hereditary.” Both films ran afoul of the requirement that foreign production companies prove their eligibility via a cumbersome process.
“The Favourite” scripters Tony McNamara and Deborah Davis are all but certain to contend at the Oscars. They’ve already won a slew of regional critics prizes. “The Favourite” was directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. In 2016 years ago, he and co-writer Efthymis Filippou reaped an Oscar bid for their original script for “The Lobster” after being denied a chance to contend at the WGA Awards.
As usual, animated features were not eligible for consideration, which ruled out bids for, among others, multi-hyphenate Wes Anderson for “Isle of Dogs.” He could well earn an Oscar nomination for the script his well-received film.
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
“Eighth Grade”
Written by Bo Burnham
“Green Book”
Written by Nick Vallelonga & Brian Currie & Peter Farrelly
“A Quiet Place”
Screenplay by Bryan Woods & Scott Beck and John Krasinski, Story by Bryan Woods & Scott Beck;
“Roma”
Written by Alfonso Cuarón
“Vice”
Written by Adam McKay
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ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
“BlacKkKlansman”
Written by Charlie Wachtel & David Rabinowitz and Kevin Willmott & Spike Lee
Based on the book by Ron Stallworth
“Black Panther”
Written by Ryan Coogler & Joe Robert Cole
Based on the Marvel Comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
“Can You Ever Forgive Me?”
Screenplay by Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty
Based on the book by Lee Israel
“If Beale Street Could Talk”
Screenplay by Barry Jenkins
Based on the novel by James Baldwin;
“A Star is Born”
Screenplay by Eric Roth and Bradley Cooper & Will Fetters
Based on the 1954 screenplay by Moss Hart and the 1976 screenplay by John Gregory Dunne & Joan Didion and Frank Pierson
Based on a story by William Wellman and Robert Carson
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DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY
“Bathtubs Over Broadway”
Written by Ozzy Inguanzo & Dava Whisenant
“Fahrenheit 11/9”
Written by Michael Moore
“Generation Wealth”
Written by Lauren Greenfield
“In Search of Greatness”
Written by Gabe Polsky
PREDICT the Oscar nominees now; change them until January 22
Which screenplays do you think will reap Oscar bids. Be sure to make your Oscar nomination predictions in those categories as well as the 22 others. Don’t be afraid to jump in now since you can keep changing your predictions until just before nominees are announced on January 22. And join in the fierce debate over the 2019 Oscars taking place right now with Hollywood insiders in our film forums. Read more Gold Derby entertainment news.
