The WGA announced their nominations today. These nominations don’t tell us too much about the Oscar because some of Oscar contenders are not eligible for a WGA. Writers have to qualify under strict rules to become a member of the WGA.
Some films that ineligible include, Florence Foster Jenkins, The Lobster, Zootopia, Toni Erdmann, Elle, Finding Dory, Lion and The Handmaiden. All films with great scripts.
I am surprised that Fences got in for Adapted Screenplay. It wasn’t adapted at all. The film is the exact same script as the play. And Deadpool got in for Adapted, ugh!
With that said, here is the complete list of WGA nominees:
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Hell or High Water, Written by Taylor Sheridan
La La Land, Written by Damien Chazelle
Loving, Written by Jeff Nichols
Manchester by the Sea, Written by Kenneth Lonergan
Moonlight, Written by Barry Jenkins, Story by Tarell McCraney
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Arrival, Screenplay by Eric Heisserer; Based on the Story “Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang
Deadpool, Written by Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick
Fences, Screenplay by August Wilson; Based on his Play
Hidden Figures, Screenplay by Allison Schroeder and Theodore Melfi; Based on the Book by Margot Lee Shetterly
Nocturnal Animals, Screenplay by Tom Ford; Based on the Novel Tony and Susan by Austin Wright
DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY
Author: The JT LeRoy Story, Written by Jeff Feuerzeig
Command and Control, Telescript by Robert Kenner and Eric Schlosser, Story by Brian Pearle and Kim Robert
Zero Days, Written by Alex Gibney