‘Argo,’ ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ win top prizes at Writers Guild Awards

Argo received more awards to add to its growing collection. The Ben Affleck-directed film scored a huge win during the Writers Guild of America Awards Sunday night.

Affleck’s film won for Best Adapted Screenplay, with the award going to writer Chris Terrio. The film, which tells the story of the successful rescue of six Americans during the Iran hostage crisis, is based partly on Antonio J. Mendez’s The Master of Disguise and a Wired article titled “The Great Escape” by Joshuah Bearman.

Mark Boal’s screenplay for Zero Dark Thirty won Best Original Screenplay.

Terrio’s win could seal the deal for Argo’s Best Picture win at the Oscars, since the film suddenly becomes the favorite in the Best Adapted Screenplay category. Previously, Lincoln writer Tony Kushner was the favorite, but if Terrio can win the WGA award, he could easily win the Oscar.

Last year’s adapted screenplay winners were Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash for The Descendants and they went on to win the Oscar.

In addition to beating Lincoln, Argo also topped Life of Pi, The Perks of Being A Wallflower and Silver Linings Playbook.

Zero Dark Thirty beat Flight, Looper, Moonrise Kingdom and The Master. That category could be harder to predict at the Oscars, since Django Unchained and Amour were not nominated by the WGA, but did earn Oscar nods.

Other WGA winners include:
Best Documentary writing: Searching For Sugarman, Malik Bendjelloul
Best TV writing (Drama): Breaking Bad
Best TV writing (Comedy): Louie
New series: Girls

You can check out the rest of the winners at WGA.org. Awards were handed out during ceremonies in New York and Los Angeles.