EXCLUSIVE: Deadline has learned that A24 has taken US on Luca Guadagnino’s next movie Queer, starring Daniel Craig. Since I saw early footage for this film a year ago in Italy, A24 was always seen as the destination for the filmmakers given the distributor’s finesse in handling edgy fare, which is exactly what this William S. Burroughs feature adaptation is with Craig breaking the mold, much like he did with 007. Queer began screening to distributors via CAA Media Finance in late June and we heard then A24 was kicking the tires. There were other suitors. A24 came through and the deal just closed. All of this spells for a theatrical release.
Queer is getting its world premiere at Venice Film Festival with a North American debut at TIFF. It’s also getting a NY Film Fest Spotlight Gala.
Guadagnino reteamed with his Challengers scribe Justin Kuritzkes, and promptly shot Queer in Cinecitta after that Zendaya movie recreating a multi-colored Mexico in the heart of the legendary Rome, Italy studio. Challengers catapulted the Call Me By Your Name Oscar nominated filmmaker into the box office charts in late April with his first No. 1 opening ($15M domestic), the sexy romantic tennis drama ultimately grossing over $94M worldwide.
The movie also stars Drew Starkey, Academy Award nominee Lesley Manville, Jason Schwartzman, Andra Ursuta, Michael Borremans and David Lowery.
Pic’s blurb: Set in 1950s Mexico City, Queer follows William Lee, an American ex-pat in his late forties, as he leads a solitary life amidst a small American community. However, the arrival in town of Eugene Allerton, a young student, stirs William into finally establishing a meaningful connection with someone.
Queer was produced by Fremantle, Fremantle North America, Lorenzo Mieli for The Apartment, a Fremantle Group Company, and Luca Guadagnino for his Frenesy Film Company, in collaboration with Cinecitta and Frame by Frame. Fremantle Group financed the film.
