Luca Guadagnino’s Queer: Daniel Craig flirts with Drew Starkey in first look

The first clip has been released from Luca Guadagnino’s upcoming LGBTQIA+ period drama, Queer. 

In the one-minute clip, Daniel Craig’s character William Lee enters a bar, where he spots Drew Starkey’s Eugene Allerton on his lonesome in the corner. After trading saucy stares, Lee finds himself possessed by Mr Bean as he stands up and curtsies in his direction to the confusion of everyone in the bar.

After Eugene is joined by an unidentified woman, Lee downs a shot and leaves. (As he should, that was quite embarrassing.)

Set in the 1940’s, Queer follows Lee as he flees a drug bust in New Orleans. He wanders the bars and clubs of Mexico City, where he becomes infatuated with Starkey’s character, a discharged serviceman from the American Navy.

Based on William S. Burrough’s 1985 short novel of the same name, which explores themes such as homosexuality, sex and drug abuse, the film also stars Jason Schwartzman, Lesley Manville, Henry Zaga, Drew Droege, Ariel Schulman and Omar Apollo in his acting debut.

Queer premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival (3 September), where it received acclaim for Craig’s performance and Starkey’s star-making turn, as well as Guadagnino’s stylish direction.

The film has made headline news for the “steamy” sex scenes between Craig and Starkey, as well as Craig and Apollo.

In a recent conversation between Starkey and Apollo for Interview Magazine, the latter revealed that he had consumed “gin and tonics” before his scene with Craig, describing it as a “vibe”: “I had a really cool experience with him. He definitely has this presence to him that is felt from far away.

“I remember asking him, ‘How do you feel when the camera’s on?’ And he said, ‘To be honest, every time the camera’s on me, I’m terrified.’ I thought that was beautiful. You have to be vulnerable. You have to be open to these emotions. It was such an honest answer.”

The singer-songwriter said he tried “the soup diet” ahead of filming his sex scene, admitting that he didn’t want to ‘look off’ for Craig. Starkey refuted his concerns, saying he thought the scene was “very sensual”.

Starkey was also questioned by Variety about his “steamy scenes” with the James Bond actor, saying they were both “game for anything”.

“We just were like, “Let’s go for it, let’s have fun.” So he was a great partner to have in that. I think him and I share that same mentality of just not giving a shit,” he said.

“And Luca was so specific — he wanted us to be as comfortable as possible throughout that process, and we would block off where these intimate scenes would happen and we talked months in advance about what we thought it should be.

“It was also like a dance. We were trying to figure it out. But those were some of the most fun days I think we all had on set — just Daniel and I laughing.”

Starkey is best known for his supporting performances in films such as Love, Simon (2018), Hellraiser (2022) and The Other Zoey (2023). Since 2020, he has played Rafe in Netflix’s mystery teen drama Outer Banks.

Queer was recently picked up for distribution by A24.

As of writing, a worldwide theatrical release date has yet to be confirmed.

Watch the first clip from Queer here or below.

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