Queer Film : Everything to Know About Queer, One of the Buzziest Films of the Year

From Academy Award winning director Luca Guadagnino, written by Justin Kuritzkes and based on the novel by William S. Burroughs, and starring Daniel Craig, Drew Starkey, Lesley Manville, and Jason Schwartzman.

New Film QUEER –  Arrives in theaters on November 27

Queer is a cinematic adaptation of William S. Burroughs’s 1985 novel of the same title, which was initially penned in the early 1950s but remained unpublished for many years due to its controversial nature. This film, directed by Guadagnino, marks the first official adaptation of the book. The narrative is loosely inspired by actual events from Burroughs’s life and is regarded as a continuation of his debut novel, Junky. In the early 2010s, Steve Buscemi was working on a film adaptation of the novel, which was set to feature a screenplay by Oren Moverman. Moverman had completed the script a decade earlier, and Buscemi conducted a live reading of it at the Sarasota Film Festival in 2010. However, the project ultimately did not progress beyond the development phase for reasons that remain unclear. Luca Guadagnino’s latest film, “Queer,” commences with a sequence of tableaux—delicate still-life compositions featuring glasses, trinkets, and books. These objects are intended to reflect the lives of the two main characters, gay men in 1950s Mexico City, who are in search of solace from their pasts while embracing their desires. According to the film’s stars, Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey, this is a testament to Guadagnino’s exceptional ability to convey character through the physical environment. However, it appears that there is even more depth to this approach.

The cast includes Daniel Craig, Drew Starkey, Omar Apollo, and more.

The ensemble of Queer is undeniably impressive, featuring talents such as Craig, Starkey, Jason Schwartzman, Lesley Manville, Henry Zaga, Drew Droege, Ariel Schulman, David Lowery, Colin Bates, Perla Ambrosini, and Ronia Ava. Additionally, singer-songwriter Omar Apollo will be making his acting debut in this film.

Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey discuss the creation of ‘Queer,’ which is poised to be the most daring love story of the year.

Craig and Starkey are engaged in conversation in early October, following the film’s premiere at the New York Film Festival. The screening was well-attended, culminating in an after-party at the Chelsea Hotel. The atmosphere was vibrant, with notable figures from the literary and entertainment worlds, including playwright Jeremy O. Harris and social media personality Evan Ross Katz, present to celebrate the film. In the ballroom below, director Guadagnino warmly embraces his two co-stars, highlighting their strong bond.

The Italian director welcomed the actors into his life for the project titled “Queer.” Although the film is set in Mexico, Craig and Starkey rehearsed and filmed at Cinecittà, the renowned Roman studio known for its association with cinematic legends such as Fellini, Rossellini, and Visconti. They are approximately a month past the film’s debut at the Venice International Film Festival, where it garnered a nine-minute standing ovation and, more significantly, catapulted Starkey into the spotlight as a viral sensation before many had the opportunity to view the film. The 30-year-old actor became the festival’s standout star, posing on a gondola with Apollo and playfully engaging with photographers on the red carpet.

“It’s overwhelming,” Starkey remarks. “I find it difficult to comprehend — it all seems surreal. I’m striving to stay grounded and composed. I am in this moment — yet I know it will evolve in the coming year.”

“I often say,” Craig starts, then humorously mimics the grandiose tone of a stereotypical actor. “I often say, this industry is tectonic. It’s not a ladder to ascend. Everything moves laterally. I met Luca two decades ago, and it has taken this long to reach this point.”

Lee’s journey encompasses not only moments of connection but also a crucial self-realization: he is more than merely a social drinker. The film’s unsettling undercurrent reveals that Lee is, in truth, a heroin addict, using substances partly as a means to escape from reality.

Craig reflects, “Unfortunately, I’ve encountered individuals whose experiences have intersected with my life in various ways. Thus, I have observed this closely.” To ensure an authentic portrayal of addiction, Craig consulted an on-set expert, emphasizing, “We aimed to avoid framing this as a withdrawal narrative; it simply needs to be an integral part of the story.” Lee is not a concealed addict, yet the depth of his substance issues comes as a surprise to Eugene. “I don’t believe he’s concealing it,” Craig explains. “He is simply a proud individual who refrains from displaying it. He becomes quite chaotic in the film, but that is not his desire; he aspires to maintain dignity, elegance, and composure.”

Craig’s role in “Queer” marks a departure from his usual projects and may signify a return to his foundational roots. Prior to his rise as an action star in “Layer Cake,” Craig, trained in London theater, garnered attention in intimate and somber character dramas, such as the 2003 film “Sylvia,” where he portrayed poet Ted Hughes alongside Gwyneth Paltrow as Sylvia Plath.

Currently, he steps into “Queer” as an actor recognized for two iconic roles in major films that epitomize elegance and grace. Following his work in Steven Soderbergh’s “Logan Lucky” in 2017, Craig has completed his final portrayal of James Bond, definitively concluding with 2021’s “No Time to Die,” which, fittingly, culminates in his character’s demise. Additionally, he has starred in three “Knives Out” mystery films, with the third installment, “Wake Up Dead Man,” set to premiere on Netflix in 2025. In 2022’s “Glass Onion,” it was revealed that Craig’s intellectual investigator Benoit Blanc is a gay man leading a life that is emotionally stable and fulfilling, contrasting sharply with Lee’s tumultuous and tormented existence, alongside a domestic partner portrayed by Hugh Grant in a brief appearance.