Acclaimed Screenwriter Nora Garrett Reflects on Surreal Journey from Workshop to Luca Guadagnino's Set

In October 2025, first-time screenwriter Nora Garrett reflects on the incredible journey of seeing her script for 'After the Hunt' come to life under the direction of acclaimed filmmaker Luca Guadagnino. Garrett had been mulling over the story's themes of power dynamics in academia and the #MeToo reckoning for years, and the 12-week screenwriting workshop she took provided the structure to turn her ideas into a full-fledged screenplay.

Guadagnino was immediately drawn to Garrett's script, captivated by its timely social commentary and the complex, morally ambiguous characters at its core. Within just a few months, the film had assembled an impressive cast including Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, Andrew Garfield, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Chloë Sevigny. Garrett describes the experience of being on set and witnessing her characters come to life as "incredibly surreal," a far cry from writing in her studio apartment.

The film explores the story of Yale professor Alma, played by Roberts, who is shaken when her student Maggie, portrayed by Edebiri, accuses Alma's close colleague Hank, played by Garfield, of sexual assault. Garrett's nuanced exploration of this charged scenario, where neither Alma nor Maggie are presented as purely sympathetic or villainous, has struck a chord with audiences and critics alike.