According to Variety, Gerwig’s Barbie has been deemed as an ‘adapted screenplay’ by the Writers Branch executive committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Though the movie did tell its own original story, the fact that it was centred on the existing Barbie IP means that it would have to be treated as adapted material.

The academy also did the same thing with The LEGO Movie back in 2014, as was revealed by director Chris Miller:

FUN FACT: In 2014, the Academy deemed THE LEGO MOVIE an adapted screenplay even though we had already won the National Board of Review Best Original Screenplay award — because it was based on LEGO bricks and had a LEGO version of Batman as a character https://t.co/UzTl9tS4jj

— Christopher Miller (@chrizmillr) January 4, 2024

Though Barbie may not be able to run for Best Original Screenplay, the movie had already nabbed five nominations including Best Sound, Best Original Score, and 3 Best Original Song nominations with What Was I Made For by Billie Eilish, Dance the Night by Dua Lipa, and I’m Just Ken by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt.

No doubt, fans will want Barbie to be nominated for all the big Oscar numbers like Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, Best Actress (for Margot Robbie) and Best Supporting Actor (for Ryan Gosling). Hopefully America Ferrera’s performance a Gloria can also nab a Best Supporting Actress nomination.

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens. Voting for Oscar nominations starts on Jan. 11.

As it turns out, newcomer Rachel Zegler hasn’t been invited to the Oscars. She revealed this to one of her fans on her IG (via @solacecinema):

Rachel Zegler reveals she was not invited to the #Oscars despite starring in Best Picture-nominee ‘West Side Story.’

The film has 7 nominations and its lead was not invited. Shameful. pic.twitter.com/jL5MuaEosH

— Cinema Solace (@solacecinema) March 20, 2022

Her comments have incited outrage on social media, and a lot of fans are wondering who is to blame. While some are saying it’s the Academy’s fault, some are also pointing fingers at Disney—a company that was recently caught under fire thanks to the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

If anything, Zegler is very thankful to all the fans who came out to show their support. We don’t know if she’ll eventually come to the Oscars, but I’m sure there is some PR team that is currently scrambling to find out what to say about Zegler’s non-invitation.

my goodness, folks!! appreciate all the support, i really really do. we live in such unprecedented times, and a lot of work behind the scenes goes into making movie magic happen. that goes for film productions (like the one I am so lucky to be currently shooting in london)…

— rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) March 20, 2022

West Side Story has proven to have a very unique reputation with pop culture right now. Besides its main actress being snubbed by the Oscars, Zegler’s co-star Ansel Elgort has also been the topic of heavy scrutiny thanks to some underage chat messages. We don’t know how the film will do overall at the Academy Awards, but hopefully Zegler gets to come to the event.

Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story is now available to watch on Disney+ and HBO Max.