015 - Challengers (Justin Kuritzkes)

Welcome to The Screenplay Lab, the podcast that treats screenplays like the art they are. I’m Jeff Barker, a screenwriter, and in this episode, we’re dissecting the bold, layered, and seductive script behind Challengers (2024) — written by Justin Kuritzkes and directed by Luca Guadagnino.

Starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist, Challengers is far more than a steamy love triangle on a tennis court. It’s nonlinear storytelling at its sharpest, with subtext-rich dialogue, shifting POVs, and a screenplay that’s as cinematic on the page as it is on screen.

🎾 What’s inside this breakdown:

• Emotional momentum in a nonlinear structure

• Power, seduction & control — tennis as metaphor

• Subtext-laced dialogue that leaves an impact

• Multiple perspectives told with clarity and flair

• Formatting risks: mini-slugs, bold text, "thwaacckkk", and more

• How Challengers blends sports drama, erotic thriller, and psychological tension

We also explore how Justin Kuritzkes transitioned from a viral YouTuber to a Black List screenwriter, how the script evolved in collaboration with Zendaya and Guadagnino, and what this film teaches us about modern cinematic storytelling.

💡 Plus: Comparisons to Eternal Sunshine, symbolism deep-dives, and why this screenplay hits harder than a Grand Slam serve.

🎙️ About The Screenplay Lab:
We study and appreciate screenplays as stand-alone literary works, not just blueprints for film. We deconstruct a script in each episode, uncovering what makes it unique and exploring what writers can learn.

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