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Justin Kuritzkes

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Justin Kuritzkes
Born (1990-05-05) May 5, 1990 (age 34)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
EducationBrown University (BA)
Occupations
  • Playwright
  • novelist
  • screenwriter
Years active2011–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2016)​

Justin Kuritzkes (born May 5, 1990) is an American playwright, novelist, and screenwriter best known for writing the scripts for two of Luca Guadagnino's films, Challengers and Queer.[1] He has also been the subject of media coverage because of his activities on YouTube, such as the 2011 video "Potion Seller".[2][3]

Early life and education

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Kuritzkes was born and raised in Los Angeles, California to a Jewish family.[4][5] His father is a gastroenterologist and his mother practiced real estate law.[6]

In 2008, Kuritzkes graduated from Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles.[7]

Kuritzkes attended Brown University where he studied philosophy and literary arts. At Brown, Kuritzkes studied with playwrights Gregory Moss, Lisa D'Amour, and Erik Ehn, participated in Production Workshop,[8] and was involved in local protests affiliated with the Occupy movement.[5][9] Kuritzkes graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2012.[10]

Career

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Kuritzkes' one-act play An Autobiography of my Brother, first written for the 2008 Harvard-Westlake Playwrights Festival, was among the works honored at the 2010 Young Playwrights Competition.[7]

Beginning during his time at Brown University, Kuritzkes uploaded videos recorded using the Photo Booth application to Youtube.[1] The most famous of these videos, Potion Seller, went viral online and inspired parodies in publications including The New Yorker.[11]

Kuritzkes received a MacDowell Fellowship in both 2012 and 2016.[5] In 2016, his play The Sensuality Party toured the university circuit of New York state.[12][13] He released the novel Famous People in 2019.[14][15]

Kuritzkes wrote the screenplay for Luca Guadagnino's romantic sports drama Challengers.[16] Ahead of the film's release, he was named one of the top 10 screenwriters to watch in 2023 by Variety.[17] He also adapted William S. Burroughs' 1985 novel Queer for a film directed by Guadagnino.[18]

In April 2024, Variety reported that Kuritzkes would write the screen adaptation of the Don Winslow novel City on Fire, set to star Austin Butler.[19]

Personal life

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Kuritzkes has been married to filmmaker Celine Song since June 11, 2016. They live together in New York City.[20][21]

Filmography

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Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Title Notes
2011 Potion Seller web short video
2024 Challengers —
Queer —
TBA City on Fire † Pre-production

References

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  1. ^ a b Reijn, Halina. "What Drove Justin Kuritzkes to Write the Year's Horniest Movie?". Interview Magazine. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  2. ^ "The Creator of the 2011 Viral Video 'Potion Seller' Reflects on the Infamous Meme a Decade Later". Laughing Squid. June 23, 2021. Archived from the original on August 3, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  3. ^ Sung, Morgan (October 14, 2018). "The 'Potion Seller' guy is still making videos, and it's glorious". Mashable. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  4. ^ "'Past Lives' Director Celine Song and Greta Lee Talk Endings and Beginnings (Exclusive)". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. February 8, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024. seated between her husband, the Jewish-American writer Justin Kuritzkes
  5. ^ a b c "Justin Kuritzkes". MacDowell Fellowships. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  6. ^ Coleman, Madeline Leung (April 23, 2024). "With Challengers, Justin Kuritzkes Serves an Ace". Vulture. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Rothberg, Daniel. "Long Roads for Short Plays". The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  8. ^ "PW drama draws the audience in 'Closer'". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  9. ^ "Occupiers see lack of campus engagement with movement". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  10. ^ "Brown University: The Two Hundred and Forty-Fourth Commencement" (PDF). Brown University. May 27, 2012.
  11. ^ "Your Strongest Potion". The New Yorker. October 26, 2018. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  12. ^ "Discovery: Justin Kuritzkes". Interview Magazine. April 26, 2016. Archived from the original on October 16, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  13. ^ Clement, Olivia (April 25, 2016). "The Sensuality Party Begins Performances Tonight". Playbill. Archived from the original on August 7, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  14. ^ Stephens, Christopher John (August 19, 2019). "'Famous People' Splashes in the Puddle of a Shallow Pop Star, PopMatters". PopMatters. Archived from the original on July 2, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  15. ^ "Summer, by the Book". The New Yorker. July 26, 2019. Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  16. ^ Kroll, Justin (February 11, 2022). "Luca Guadagnino Sets Zendaya, Josh O'Connor & Mike Faist To Star In 'Challengers' For MGM And Amy Pascal". Deadline. Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  17. ^ "Variety's 10 Screenwriters to Watch for 2023 Include Scribes for 'The Marvels,' 'Rustin' and 'The Color Purple'". Variety. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  18. ^ Vivarelli, Nick (April 21, 2023). "Drew Starkey to Star With Daniel Craig in Luca Guadagnino's 'Queer' With Filming Starting This Month in Italy (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  19. ^ Fleming Jr., Mike. "Sony's 3000 Taps 'Challengers' Justin Kuritzkes To Adapt Don Winslow's 'City On Fire' For Austin Butler; 'Barbie's David Heyman Boards Trilogy". Variety. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  20. ^ Dalton, Ben (February 19, 2023). "Celine Song talks debut feature 'Past Lives': "It's the script that convinced people I can do this"". Screen. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  21. ^ Rao, Mallika (February 19, 2023). "Celine Song on 'Past Lives', Her Debut Movie". Vulture. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
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