"Dark Knight" Nabs WGA Screenplay Nom

Add writing to Batman's bag of tricks. "The Dark Knight" earned a nomination Wednesday for best adapted screenplay from the Writers Guild of America.

Director Christopher Nolan and brother Jonathan Nolan co-wrote the screenplay for the Batman blockbuster, which is based on the DC Comics franchise.

"The Dark Knight" is up against the romantic fantasy "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," written by Eric Roth and based on an F. Scott Fitzgerald story; the Roman Catholic drama "Doubt," adapted by director John Patrick Shanley from his stage play; the Richard Nixon saga "Frost/Nixon," adapted by Peter Morgan from his play; and the street-orphan tale "Slumdog Millionaire," written by Simon Beaufoy from Vikas Swarup's novel "Q and A."

Joel and Ethan Coen, last year's adapted-screenplay winners for "No Country for Old Men," have an original-screenplay nomination for their CIA romp "Burn After Reading."

Also nominated for original screenplay: Dustin Lance Black for the Harvey Milk drama "Milk"; Woody Allen for his Spanish romance "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"; writer-director Tom McCarthy for the cross-cultural tale "The Visitor"; and Robert Siegel for the ringside story "The Wrestler."

Nominees for documentary screenplay: Stefan Forbes and Noland Walker for "Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story"; Brett Morgen for "Chicago 10"; Johnny O'Hara for "Fuel"; Alex Gibney for "Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson"; and Ari Folman for "Waltz With Bashir.

Awards will be presented Feb. 7 at simultaneous ceremonies in New York City and Los Angeles.

The Writers Guild honors could give nominees a last-minute boost for the Oscars, whose nomination balloting closes Monday.