The USC Libraries named the finalists for the 37th-annual USC Libraries Scripter Awards, which honor the writers of the year’s most accomplished film and episodic series adaptations, as well as the writers of the works on which they are based.
The finalist writers for film adaptation are, in alphabetical order by film
–James Mangold and Jay Cocks for “A Complete Unknown” based on the nonfiction book “Dylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties” by Elijah Wald
–Peter Straughan for “Conclave” based on the novel by Robert Harris
–RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes for “Nickel Boys” based on the book “The Nickel Boys” by Colson Whitehead
–Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar (screenplay and story) and Clarence Maclin and John “Divine G” Whitfield (story) for “Sing Sing” based on the “Esquire” magazine article “The Sing Sing Follies” by John H. Richardson
–Screenwriter Chris Sanders and novelist Peter Brown for “The Wild Robot”
The finalist writers for episodic series are, in alphabetical order by series
–Richard Gadd for the sixth episode of “Baby Reindeer,” based on his stage play of the same name
–Steven Zaillian for “V Lucio,” the fifth episode of “Ripley,” based on “The Talented Mr. Ripley” by Patricia Highsmith
–Joshua Zetumer for the episode “The People in the Dirt” from “Say Nothing,” based on the nonfiction book “Say by Patrick Radden Keefe
–Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks for “Anjin,” the first episode of “Shōgun,” based on the novel by James Clavell
–Will Smith for the episode “Hello Goodbye,” from “Slow Horses,” based on the novel “Spook Street” by Mick Herron
The 2025 Scripter selection committee selected the finalists from a field of 42 film and 66 episodic series adaptations. Howard Rodman, USC professor and VP/secretary of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, chairs the 2025 committee.
The studios distributing the finalist films and current publishers of the printed works are:
–“A Complete Unknown”—Searchlight Pictures and Dey Street Books
–“Conclave”— Focus Features and Vintage Books
–“Nickel Boys”—Amazon MGM Studios and Vintage Books
–“Sing Sing”—A24 and Esquire
–“The Wild Robot”—Universal Pictures and Little, Brown and Company
The networks and streaming platforms broadcasting the finalist episodic series and current publishers of the works are:
–“Baby Reindeer”—Netflix and Methuen Drama
–“Ripley”—Netflix and Vintage Books
–“Say Nothing”—FX/Hulu and Vintage Books
–“Shōgun”—FX/Hulu and Blackstone Publishing
–“Slow Horses”—Apple TV+ and Soho Crime
The USC Libraries will announce the winning authors and screenwriters at a black-tie ceremony on Saturday, Feb. 22, in the Town & Gown ballroom at the University of Southern California.
Since 1988, Scripter has honored the authors of original works alongside the screenwriters who adapt their stories.
