Playwright Paul Zindel's Estate Claims 'The Shape of Water' Was Derived From His 1969 Play

Playwright Paul Zindel's estate has accused the film The Shape of Water of using Zindel's work from a 1969 play without credit. The estate argues that the film was "obviously derived" from Zindel's work, according to The Guardian.

David Zindel, Paul's son, believes that The Shape of Water was derived from Paul's play Let Me Hear You Whisper, a play about a female janitor working in a laboratory who tries to rescue a captive dolphin. This comes following the announcement that Guillermo Del Toro's film is nominated for 12 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay.

The film, which was co-written by Del Toro and Vanessa Taylor, is about a cleaner who works in a Baltimore laboratory in the 1960s and falls in love with a sea creature whom she attempts to rescue.

There are many plot similarities between the two works. Both main characters are CLEANERS who fall in love with and try to rescue these aquatic creatures. More specifically, both women dance with a mop in front of the tank of their respective creatures to the tune of a love song.

Both fictional labs are involved in military operations with plays to kill the creatures, and both women decide to help the create by sneaking it out to sea in a laundry cart.

There are also some differences. In The Shape of Water, Elisa, the main character, is mute and communications through sign language with the creature. Without giving away spoilers, the endings of the films are also substantially different.

A spokesperson with FOX Searchlight has denied the allegations that the film was inspired by Zindel's play. In a statement, they said, "Guillermo del Toro has never read nor seen Mr Zindel's play in any form. Mr del Toro has had a 25 year career during which he has made 10 feature films and has always been very open about acknowledging his influences. If the Zindel family has questions about this original work we welcome a conversation with them."

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