Both works will compete in the Best Adapted Screenplay category
A slight wrench has been thrown into the Oscar machine for Barry JenkinsMoonlightand Jeff NicholsLoving.
EW has confirmed both films screenplays are ineligible to compete in the Academys original screenplay category, and instead will both have to compete for adapted screenplay recognition.
Jenkins adaptedMoonlight,about a young black boys maturation on the streets of Miami, from Tarell Alvin McCraneys unproduced playIn Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue;NicholsLovingwas inspired by Nancy Buirskis documentaryThe Loving Story, which chronicles the life of Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple imprisoned in Virginia for violating, through marriage, the states segregation laws.
Credit: David Bornfriend/A24; Ben Rothstein
Because McCraneys play was never produced, the Writers Guild of America deemedMoonlights screenplay an original creation, and it could be nominated in the category at the industry unions annual awards, nominations for which are set to be announced on Jan. 4.
By switching categories,Moonlight a contender that has performed much better thanLovingalong the circuit thus far will now compete against adapted screenplays fromFences,Lion,Arrival,Sully,Hidden Figures, andLove & Friendshipfor an Oscar nomination.
In the original screenplay category, both films faced a harsher battle, as scripts for current Best Picture frontrunnerLa La Landand fellow heavy-hitterManchester by the Seaare not based on pre-existing material.
Reporting by Nicole Sperling
