A24 Lands Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Queer’ Starring Daniel Craig

As a seasoned film critic with a penchant for unconventional narratives and a soft spot for period pieces, I can hardly contain my excitement for Luca Guadagnino’s latest masterpiece, “Queer.” The mere prospect of Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey sharing the screen is enough to pique my interest, but when you add in the rich tapestry of 1950s Mexico City, the enigmatic William S. Burroughs’ novel as source material, and Guadagnino at the helm, it becomes an irresistible proposition.


The movie “Queer,” directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, will be distributed in the United States by A24.

This year, the highly anticipated movie starring Daniel Craig has its global debut at the 81st Venice Film Festival on September 3rd.

1950s Mexico City serves as the backdrop for the drama “Queer,” where the main character, William Lee (played by Craig), a 40-something American expat living in seclusion among a small American community, finds himself. But when a young student named Eugene Allerton (portrayed by Drew Starkey) arrives, William’s solitary existence is disrupted, leading him to forge a significant relationship at last. The talented Lesley Manville, Jason Schwartzman, Andra Ursuta, Michael Borremans, and David Lowery are also part of the cast.

The film “Queer” was penned for the big screen by Justin Kuritzkes, a partner in projects with Guadagnino known as “The Challengers”, based on the book of the same title by American author William S. Burroughs.

Craig and Guadagnino expressed their enthusiasm by saying, “We’re overjoyed that our film, ‘Queer’, has been accepted by the bold, vibrant, and pioneering studio A24. This project is a labor of love for us, and we can’t wait to share Burroughs’ legendary novel on screen for the first time. We are deeply honored to be working with our cherished collaborators, and we couldn’t ask for better companions on this creative journey.”

Beyond being screened in Venice’s competition, where Guadagnino won the best director award in 2022, the film “Queer” will also make its North American debut as a special presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival and will be the Spotlight Gala for the New York Film Festival.

A24 Lands Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Queer’ Starring Daniel Craig

“The film ‘Queer’ was co-created by Fremantle, Fremantle North America, Lorenzo Mieli from The Apartment (a company under the Fremantle Group), and Luca Guadagnino from his production house, Frenesy Film Company. This collaboration also included Cinecitta and Frame by Frame. Financing for the film was provided by the Fremantle Group.”

“Andrea Scrosati of Fremantle expressed excitement as ‘Queer,’ a groundbreaking achievement in cinema, will be distributed in the US by A24. Scrosati considers A24 an ideal collaborator for Luca Guadagnino’s heartfelt and delicate film, and everyone is eager to join forces with their talented team once more.”

CAA Media Finance brokered the deal.

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2024-08-29 05:16