Hopper Explodes Easy Rider Myths Message Board and Comments

Terry Southern did indeed write most of Easy Rider. Besides creating the character of lawyer George Hanson (Jack Nicholson) and writing all the dialog, he was originally the ONLY credited screenwriter. It was only after Hopper and Fonda begged him to allow the Screenwriter's Guild to co-credit them as writers that they were included at all. And that was because of impending awards nominations (ER was nom'd for a Best Original Screenplay Oscar). Southern responded to Hopper's previous claims of total authorship by saying "They (Hopper and Fonda) cannot even write a letter, let alone a screenplay." Southern was also refused his agreed-upon 1% of royalties (made orally) after the movie became an unexpected hit. The amount that this would represent in back royalties is undoubtedly the reason Hopper is so adamant in his fantasy about sole authorship.