The Descendants has won the Oscar for best adapted screenplay at the Academy Award ceremony currently taking place at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash were the favourites to win for their adaptation of Kaui Hart Hemmings's novel.
The Descendants team came out ahead of a strong field including John Logan (Hugo), George Clooney, Grant Heslov, and Beau Willimon (The Ides of March), Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin, and Stan Chervin (Moneyball), and Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy). Payne has previously won a best adapted screenplay Oscar for Sidways in 2005, and was nominated for Election in 2000. Both Faxon and Rash are first time nominees.
The Descendants sees Clooney play a Hawaiian lawyer struggle with his family after learning that his wife – in a coma after a serious accident – was unfaithful to him.
