The “Barbie” movie has been ruled as an adapted screenplay by the Writers Branch executive committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, per a Variety report. This decision came after filmmakers Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach campaigned to have it classified as an original screenplay.
The film is expected to be nominated for Oscars in several categories, including Best Screenplay, but will face much stiffer competition in the Adapted category as opposed to the Original category. Other shortlisted titles in the Adapted category include Martin Scoresese’s “Killers Of The Flower Moon” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.”
Expected contenders in the Best Original category include titles such as “The Holdovers,” “May December,” and Cannes winner “Anatomy Of A Fall.”
While many moviegoers believe that screenplays only count as “adapted” if they’re inspired by books or previous film versions of the same story, the fact is that movies are classified by the Academy as adapted if they’re based on pre-existing characters, such as Barbie dolls.
A debate has been raging online over whether “Barbie” should be considered adapted or original. “The Lego Movie” writer and producer Christopher Miller said that the Academy’s decision is in line with how it had classified movies in the past.
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“FUN FACT: In 2014, the Academy deemed THE LEGO MOVIE an adapted screenplay even though we had already won the National Board of Review Best Original Screenplay award — because it was based on LEGO bricks and had a LEGO version of Batman as a character,” he wrote in an X post.
“I think this is the right move. not like it’s an insult to be nominated for original or adapted. At the end of the day, barbie is a character / product already invented by Ruth Handler. I think that’s basis enough for adapted,” another social media user chimed in.
Despite the classification for the Oscars, “Barbie” was designated an original work by the Writers Guild of America and will compete in that category for the upcoming WGA Awards. However, its rules differ from the Academy’s when it comes to nominating films.
The fantasy comedy film “Barbie,” released in July 2023, has been popular ever since, earning more than $1.4 billion worldwide.
Official Academy Award nominations for all categories will be announced on January 23.
