Ep652 - Tony McNamara, Writer ‘Poor Things,’ ‘The Favourite’ & ‘The Roses’

Creative Principles

Tony McNamara is an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter and playwright, whose most recent film, POOR THINGS, earned his second Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. POOR THINGS marked the second creative collaboration between McNamara and director Yorgos Lanthimos, and it is the third collaboration for McNamara and star Emma Stone. The film was released in theaters in December 2023 and was the second-most Oscar-nominated film of the year. McNamara’s unique blend of humor, drama, and social commentary can also be seen in the Academy Award-nominated film THE FAVOURITE, which was also directed by Lanthimos and starred Stone. The film earned him a BAFTA Award and an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. In his latest project, THE ROSES, the picture-perfect facade of a couple crumbles, igniting a tinderbox of competition and resentment, after the husband's professional dreams are shattered. In this interview, we talk about his approach to historical and adapted material, the state of comedy films, advice for writers, his latest project, THE ROSES, and much more. Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS, right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy! If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds, and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!