Who wrote the screenplay for the 1990 film The Handmaid's Tale?

Harold Pinter wrote the screenplay for the 1990 film The Handmaid’s Tale.

The film was directed by Volker Schlöndorff and adapted from Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel. Pinter, an acclaimed British playwright and screenwriter, received the screenplay credit, but the production history was unusually complicated. He worked on the script for an extended period and later became dissatisfied with how much the finished film differed from his version.

During development, Schlöndorff replaced the original director, Karel Reisz, and further revisions were made during production. Pinter gave Schlöndorff and Atwood broad freedom to alter the screenplay. He ultimately tried to have his name removed from the credits, but remained credited because enough of his work was retained.

The released film stars Natasha Richardson as Offred, Faye Dunaway as Serena Joy and Robert Duvall as the Commander. Unlike the novel’s unresolved ending, the film adds or emphasizes material involving Offred’s escape, her pregnancy and her hopes for a future beyond Gilead.

Christopher Hampton, Tom Stoppard and David Mamet are also prominent screenwriters, but none wrote the credited screenplay for this adaptation.