Days before the glitz and glamour of the Oscars, a cloud of controversy has descended upon the acclaimed film “The Holdovers.” Directed by Alexander Payne and penned by David Hemingson, this Oscar-nominated movie has been accused of plagiarism by Simon Stephenson, the talented mind behind “Luca.”

Stephenson asserts that the storyline of “The Holdovers” bears a striking resemblance to his own unproduced screenplay titled “Frisco.” In “Frisco,” a compassionate pediatrician finds himself unexpectedly caring for a troubled teenager, a narrative that resonated with audiences and industry insiders when it surfaced on the prestigious 2013 Black List.

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“The Holdovers,” on the other hand, weaves a tale of a history teacher who, during a fateful Christmas break, forms an unlikely bond with a group of aimless teenagers, a cook, and a grieving mother. However, according to Stephenson, the similarities between the two scripts extend far beyond mere coincidence.

Stephenson’s allegations have taken center stage, backed by a dossier of documents that purportedly highlight the extensive parallels between “The Holdovers” and his own work. He has not only voiced his concerns to prominent entertainment outlet Variety but has also escalated the matter to the Writers Guild of America, citing what he claims to be a wholesale replication of “Frisco’s” story, structure, dialogue, characters, and thematic elements in “The Holdovers.”

In a statement to Variety, Stephenson lamented the alleged transgression. He emphasized that the essence of “Frisco” appears lifted wholesale and transposed onto the canvas of “The Holdovers.” He contends that numerous distinctive elements from his screenplay, meticulously crafted over years of creative endeavor, are unmistakably present in Payne’s film.

As the industry braces itself for Hollywood’s most prestigious night, the cloud of plagiarism allegations casts a shadow over the otherwise celebratory atmosphere surrounding “The Holdovers.” With the Oscars looming large, the outcome of this dispute remains uncertain, leaving audiences and industry insiders alike pondering the complexities of creative inspiration and the boundaries of artistic integrity.