Tom Holland’s fourth “Spider-Man” movie, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” has a revised screenplay credited to “Challengers” and “Queer” writer Justin Kuritzkes, adding to the film’s already loud behind-the-scenes chatter. Kuritzkes’ involvement ties back to what
Tom Holland’s fourth swing through the Spider-Verse started with a familiar writing team—and then, at some point, the script needed a jolt.
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” has a revised screenplay by “Challengers” and “Queer” writer Justin Kuritzkes, who will receive a writing credit on the film, according to TheWrap.
The movie originally had its screenplay penned by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers. credited as the sole scribes for “Brand New Day.” McKenna and Sommers previously wrote the other three entries in Holland’s superhero series: “Spider-Man: Far From Home” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home. ” where they each held lone screenplay credits. and “Spider-Man: Homecoming. ” where they shared credit with Jon Watts. Christopher Ford. Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley.
Kuritzkes’ involvement didn’t arrive quietly. Rumors began brewing last week after Holland stopped by the Ringer podcast “Good Hang with Amy Poehler.” On the show. Holland said that during the fourth film. he and co-star—and now-wife—Zendaya told director Destin Daniel Cretton that they felt a scene wasn’t working.
Holland recalled what happened next: Cretton told the crew, “Everyone can go home. We’re going to sit down. and we’re going to rewrite this scene with the writer. Justin. who is such a talent.” Holland said he and Zendaya returned the next day for the reshoot and that the moment “sings in the movie. ” adding. “It really does.”.
The clip from the podcast made its way online quickly—along with the fans’ curiosity. Once people noticed that no Justin (without a last name in Holland’s interview) appeared in the “Brand New Day” screenplay credits, they went looking for who the “mystery writer” really was.
That search intensified because Zendaya has collaborated with Kuritzkes on Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers.” “Challengers” was produced by longtime “Spider-Man” shepherd Amy Pascal. and Instagram users soon dug in—finding clues that Kuritzkes is friends with the official “Brand New Day” account on Instagram.
Kuritzkes’ superhero connection isn’t brand new either. The writer previously had only screenwriting credits for the 2024 Guadagnino double feature. “Challengers” and “Queer. ” but he was also previously set to collaborate with Guadagnino on a feature following “Sgt. Rock and the Easy Company” as part of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DCU.
That World War II-set DC movie has since been indefinitely shelved. Even after the pause, Gunn said in July 2025 that “Sgt. Rock” isn’t totally dead in the water, but he added that it will move forward without Guadagnino.
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” releases in theaters on July 31.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Tom Holland Justin Kuritzkes Chris McKenna Erik Sommers Zendaya Destin Daniel Cretton Challengers Queer Good Hang with Amy Poehler Amy Poehler
So they had to rewrite a scene and just emailed the writer? Sounds kinda messy tbh.
I saw something about Zendaya and Holland telling the director the scene wasn’t working… like?? I don’t even blame them, but why was it not working in the first place. Also “Brand New Day” already sounds like a title from a different timeline.
Wait so the writer is Justin Kuritzkes but it’s “Brand New Day” so is this like Spider-Verse 2? Because I swear I heard somewhere the movie was rebooting the whole thing. Maybe I’m mixing it up but rewrites always mean the studio panicked.
Challengers and Queer writer?? That’s what I keep seeing. Like okay cool, but why does it matter what they wrote before, shouldn’t the movie just be good. Also the article keeps saying Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers were the original scribes… so was Kuritzkes replacing them or just doing a “jolt” scene reshoot? Either way I’m side-eyeing the whole process.