"Barbie" Was Deemed An Adapted Screenplay, And Now The Fans Are Surprisingly Upset

There's no doubt Greta Gerwig's blockbuster was one of the biggest films of 2023. The surprise hit created a shake up during its run and continues as we enter the height of awards season with the latest news about the film's screenplay and the . Now, fans are frustrated. was recently "deemed an adapted screenplay by the Writers Branch executive committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, despite campaigning for original screenplay," according to .

The film's director, Greta, her writing partner, and husband, filmmaker Noah Baumbach ( , wrote the screenplay for The movie based on the 64 year old Mattel toy has already dominated several upcoming awards shows with 18 nominations for the 2024 and nine for the 2024 . So, what's the big deal about this Academy Award category? Variety initially reported was campaigning for "Best Original Screenplay" since the film was designated an original by the Writers Guild of America.

But, the Writers Branch of the Academy, which decides eligibility in submitted categories and has its own rules, thought differently. And fans are annoyed by the decision. Sure, it's interesting to consider an adapted screenplay since there's no short film, book, or original content remotely close to the hilarious mayhem we saw in Greta's movie.

And if you argue, well, is still based on an existing character, and that's why — plenty of previous Original Screenplays are based on existing characters. In the Academy Awards past, films like and were all campaigned, nominated, and awarded Best Original Screenplay despite being based on historical figures, notable figures, interviews, and other source material — so why do they get a pass? But remember, there's a caveat! According to the WGA, if "assigned material is non fiction and does not contain a narrative or is used as research material for the project ( i.e., the screenplay is not an adaptation of the underlying material), the rules for Original Screenplays will apply." While is a real toy, she's not a real person like The Boston Globe, Don Shirley, and King George VI.

Now that has apparently shifted to "Best Adapted Screenplay," it will most likely go up against movies like and — and you know what that means? Do you think is an "Original" or "Adapted" screenplay? Let's discuss in the comments..