Sean Mandell
It was a very queer day at the Venice Film Festival on Tuesday.
Daniel Craig was praised after Luca Guadagnino’s erotic film “Queer” premiered at the festival, garnering a nine-minute standing ovation. The movie also features “Outer Banks” star Drew Starkey, 30.
Craig’s performance has already been labeled “a career best,” and it’s clear the 56-year-old actor felt the love in the theater after the credits rolled Tuesday night.
In videos posted on X, the actor, who played James Bond in five installments of the franchise, appeared flushed and even a bit teary-eyed as the crowd cheered for him and the “Queer” filmmakers. After embracing Guadagnino, he walked down an aisle of stairs in the theater, taking a few small bows and thanking the audience as they continued their rapturous applause.
As the ovation continued, the star looked overwhelmed and unsure what to do.
Praise was also heaped on Guadagnino — the director perhaps most famous for his films “Call Me By Your Name” and “Challengers.” At one point, the crowd even chanted, “Luca! Luca! Luca!”
Adapted from the 1985 William S. Burroughs novel of the same name, “Queer” follows gay American expat William Lee (Craig) living in 1950s Mexico City.
“In his early 50s, Lee spends his days almost entirely alone, except for a few contacts with other members of the small American community,” according to a synopsis posted on the Venice Film Festival website.
“His encounter with Eugene Allerton (Starkey), a young student new to the city, shows him, for the first time, that it might be finally possible to establish an intimate connection with somebody.”
The film reportedly has some very sexually explicit scenes.
Craig was alongside Guadagnino and Starkey for a press conference promoting the film earlier in the day. Given the sexual subject matter of the film, it was not surprising that Craig was asked by a reporter if there could ever be a gay James Bond.
Craig, whose “Knives Out” character Benoit Blanc is gay, instantly rolled his eyes in exasperation and sighed at the question. “I mean, please,” he said under his breath, laughing.
Guadagnino then stepped in and attempted to change the topic of conversation.
“Guys, let’s be adults in the room for a second,” Guadagnino intervened, to which Craig responded, “Thank you.”
“There is no way around the fact that nobody would ever know James Bond’s desires, period,” the “Suspiria” director added, drawing applause from the audience and his “Queer” star.
“Now, the important thing is that he does his missions properly,” Guadagnino added, prompting more laughter from Craig and the room.
“Darling, I adore you,” he went on, patting the former 007 on the back of the head. Craig continued laughing and reciprocated the affectionate gesture, placing a hand on the director’s back.
This was not, however, the first time that Craig has been asked about the possibility of a gay James Bond.
Back in 2008, the actor was questioned whether Bond would ever “shag a bloke.”
“This is that question that keeps eternally coming up,” the “Quantum of Solace” star said at the time.
“No,” he declared. “Kill him and then seduce him,” he said with a laugh.
“But not seduce him. It’s never been on the agenda and we’ve never had a discussion about it. It’s not something that I desire or want. No.”
However, in the 2012 Bond outing “Skyfall,” a much talked about scene heavily implied his version of Mr. Bond had at one point had assignations with other men.
In the movie, 007 finds himself tied to a chair and interrogated by the film’s villain, Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem).
Silva caresses James’ chest and thigh, toying with his captive. “You’re trying to remember your training now,” he says menacingly. “What’s the regulation to cover this? Well, first time for everything I guess.”
Unbothered, Bond replies, “What makes you think this is my first time?”
The studio behind the movie reportedly wanted to cut the line, but producer Barbara Broccoli insisted it stay.
This post was originally posted by NYPost
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