Daniel Craig's High Profile Film 'Queer' Will Arrive in Time for the Holidays
It was December 2022 when director Luca Guadagnino, best known for films like Call Me By Your Name, Bones and All, and Challengers, announced his next film would be a film adaptation of the William S. Burroughs novel Queer, with Daniel Craig (James Bond) in the lead. Queer, which was written from 1951-1953 but not published until the mid-1980s, may not be as famous as Burrough's seminal novel, Naked Lunch; however, it is well-known as one of his semi-autobiographical works, the follow-up to Burrough's heroin-chic novel Junkie, the one where he finally isn't on drugs.
The role makes a lot of sense for Craig, who is working overtime to put his years as James Bond behind him. His primary vehicle for that is starring as Beniot Blanc, a nu-school take on Hercules Poirot, in Rian Johnson's Knives Out film franchise. However, peppering in roles like this solidifies that he's no longer a womanizing spy in blockbusters but an indie artist willing to play an aging LGBTQ+ former addict. Add in an Academy favorite like Guadagnino directing, based on a critically lauded novel by a well-decorated writer, and this A24-backed release has awards season written all over it.
A24 is getting this film up for Oscar voters; so far, it's played at Cannes, Venice, and Toronto and will soon be featured at the 2024 London Film Festival. The U.S. premiere date is also strategically positioned for award bodies to see it just before voting, opening in limited release at the end of November.
