2019 WGA Award Nominees Include ‘Black Panther’, ‘Eighth Grade,’ ‘A Quiet Place’, And More
Green Bookwon the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay atlast night’s awards show, and that particular train seems like it’s going to continue chugging all the way to the Oscars. Peter Farrelly’s film starring Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen is one of several 2019 WGA Award nominees, joining films likeA Quiet Place, Roma, Eighth Grade, andViceas contenders for the Writers Guild trophy.
Read all of the nominees below, including the films that were nominated for best documentary screenplay and the games that earned a nod for outstanding achievement in video game writing.
Here’s the full list of 2019 WGA Award nominees, along with some brief thoughts about each category.
Original Screenplay
Eighth Grade,Written byBo Burnham; A24
Green Book,Written byNick Vallelonga&Brian Currie&Peter Farrelly; Universal Pictures
A Quiet Place,Screenplay byBryan Woods&Scott BeckandJohn Krasinski, Story byBryan Woods&Scott Beck; Paramount Pictures
Roma,Written byAlfonso Cuarón; Netflix
Vice, Written byAdam McKay; Annapurna Pictures
I love that first-time screenwriter Bo Burnham is getting some love forEighth Gradefrom his fellow guild members, but the big surprise for me here is thatA Quiet Placeearned a spot. I’d expected that movie to largely be vying for technical awards (editing, sound mixing, etc.), but seeing it in this creative category is very cool. Still, I’m guessingRoma,Vice, or (god forbid)Green Bookwill beat out the competition.
Adapted Screenplay
Blackkklansman, Written byCharlie Wachtel&David RabinowitzandKevin Willmott&Spike Lee, Based on the book by Ron Stallworth; Focus Features
Black Panther, Written byRyan Coogler&Joe Robert Cole, Based on the Marvel Comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Can You Ever Forgive Me?,Screenplay byNicoleHolofcenerandJeff Whitty, Based on the book by Lee Israel; Fox Searchlight
If Beale Street Could Talk, Screenplay byBarry Jenkins, Based on the novel by James Baldwin; Annapurna Pictures
A Star is Born,Screenplay byEric RothandBradley Cooper&Will Fetters, Based on the 1954 screenplay by Moss Hart and the 1976 screenplay by John Gregory Dunne & Joan Didion and Frank Pierson, Based on a story by William Wellman and Robert Carson; Warner Bros.
This seems like it’ll be the toughest category to vote for, because all of these nominees are great in different ways. I’m personally pulling forBeale Street, but any of these would be a worthy winner.
Documentary Screenplay
Bathtubs Over Broadway,Written byOzzy Inguanzo & Dava Whisenant; Focus Features
Fahrenheit 11/9,Written byMichael Moore; Briarcliff Entertainment
Generation Wealth, Written byLauren Greenfield; Amazon Studios
In Search of Greatness,Written byGabe Polsky; Art of Sport
Ireally enjoyedGeneration Wealthand how it transformed from a story about the photography of wealth into a personal reflection about the filmmaker/photographer’s own obsession with her work. Even if it doesn’t go on to win, I’m glad to see it recognized here.
Videogame Writing
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Associate Narrative DirectorsMatthew Zagurak, Joel Janisse, James Richard Mittag; Narrative DirectorMelissa MacCoubrey; Story byJonathan Dumont, Melissa MacCoubrey, Hugo Giard; ScriptwritersMadeleine Hart, Betty Robertson, Jesse Scoble, Diana Sherman, Kelly Bender, Jojo Chia, Ian Fun, Zachary M. Parris, Ken Williamson, Daniel Bingham, Jordan Lemos, Simon Mackenzie, Katelyn MacMullin, Susan Patrick, Alissa Ralph, Stephen Rhodes; Team Lead WriterSam Gill; AI WritersJonathan Flieger, Kimberly Ann Sparks; Ubisoft Quebec
Batman: The Enemy Within, Episode 5-Same Stitch, Lead WriterJames Windeler; Written byMeghan Thornton, Ross Beeley, Lauren Mee; Story byMeghan Thornton, Michael Kirkbride; Telltale Games
God of War, Written byMatt Sophos, Richard Zangrande Gaubert, Cory Barlog; Story and Narrative Design LeadMatt Sophos; Story and Narrative DesignRichard Zangrande Gaubert; Narrative DesignOrion Walker, Adam Dolin; Sony Interactive Entertainment
Marvel’s Spider-Man, Story LeadJon Paquette; WritersBenjamin Arfmann, Kelsey Beachum; Co-Written byChristos Gage; Additional Story Contributions byDan Slott; Insomniac Games & Sony Interactive Entertainment
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, Narrative DesignersAlex Scokel, Eric Fenstermaker, Kate Dollarhyde, Megan Starks, Olivia Veras, Paul Kirsch; Additional WritingTony Evans, John Schmautz, Casey Hollingshead, Nitai Poddar; Narrative Design LeadsCarrie Patel, Josh Sawyer; Obsidian Entertainment
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verserightfully has everyone’s attention at the moment for the terrific job it does of telling an inclusive, hilarious Spider-Man story, but the storyline inMarvel’s Spider-Manis almost as good, and it’s my personal pick for this category.
The winners of each category will be announced at the 2019 Writers Guild Awards on Sunday,February 17, 2019at simultaneous ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York City.
