Oscars 2024: Barbie was stripped of the category where she was the favorite

While everyone thought Greta Gerwig’s hit comedy would be in the running for the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, the Academy has made a decision and is now considering the film’s script as an adaptation, as reported by Variety.

So when official voting for Oscar nominations opens on January 11, members will only be able to vote for screenplay. Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach in the adaptation category.

• “Greta Gerwig left Barbie on her knees”: Was the sequel with Margot Robbie compromised?

Recall that the film tells the story of the main character of Barbieland, Barbie (Margot Robbie), who suffers from an identity crisis, which leads her and her lover Ken (Ryan Gosling) to the real world in search of answers to her existence. .

If this plot may seem original to you, the Academy understands: it is adapted from the legendary Mattel doll, on the shelves for 65 years. And suddenly the adaptation category becomes even more interesting.

Indeed, Barbie will now have to compete with favorite films such as Zone of Interest, Poor Creatures, Killers of the Flower Moon or even her famous companion, Oppenheimer. In terms of the original best case scenario, this leaves a new favorite to take Paul’s position. Its place could be taken by films such as Past Lives – Nos vies d’avants by Celine Song and The Holdovers’ Alexander Payne, and May December by Todd Haynes and Anatomy of Autumn by Justin Triet.

• Barbie and Ken will be at the Oscars, but not for one of the best songs of the year

A decision that is debated

The decision sparked an interesting debate on social media, as the film had previously been designated as an original work by the Writers Guild of America. Accordingly, this classification remains valid for subsequent WGA Awards. However, each receiving authority has its own rules.

And this is not the first time: films such as, for example, Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight (2016) were also qualified as original by the WGA, but were adapted by the Academy committee. Many films based on pre-existing characters end up being classified as adapted screenplays, such as previous Oscar nominees Toy Story 3, Borat 2, Before Sunset and Before Midnight.

However, this decision caused a backlash: director Judd Apatow noted that it was offensive to categorize Barbie as an adapted screenplay: “There was no existing material“, he explained.

Notes for Greta Gerwig

with its meta-comedy, Greta Gerwig She became the first woman to make a billion-dollar film. He was previously nominated for three Oscars for directing and writing adaptations of The Daughters of Doctor March (2019) and Lady Bird (2016), on the original side. She is one of only seven women ever to be nominated for directing. If nominated this year, she will be the second woman to be nominated for a second time, following winner Jane Campion for Power of the Dog (2021).

at the golden globe Barbie Set Cabaret’s record (1972) as the second-most nominated film in the organization’s history with nine nominations, including Best Picture (Comedy or Musical). He is expected to win several awards at a ceremony in the United States today. It will be the first step in the sprint to the Oscars, an exciting race for awards season fans.

The 96th Oscar award ceremony is scheduled for March 10, 2024.

In the meantime, check out Barbie’s gaffes and mistakes below: