Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Queer’ lands at A24 for US release in 2024

In another major sale just before the start of the Venice Film Festival, A24 has secured the US distribution rights to “Queer,” the new film by Luca Guadagnino starring Daniel Craig, ahead of its world premiere.

A24 plans to release Queer in theaters this year, likely in line with awards slates. The film will also play at TIFF and NYFF later this fall. A theatrical release date has not yet been set.

For the adaptation of the book of the same name by William S. Burroughs, Guadagnino again worked with “Challengers” screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes.

“Queer” stars Daniel Craig, Drew Starkey, Lesley Manville, Jason Schwartzman, Andra Ursuta, Michael Borremans and David Lowery.

Set in 1950s Mexico City, the film follows William Lee, an American expat in his late 40s who lives a lonely life in the midst of a small American community. However, the arrival of young student Eugene Allerton in town leads William to finally form a meaningful relationship 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 association with Cinecitta and Frame by Frame. The Fremantle Group financed the film.

Today, Fremantle sold the U.S. rights to another title that premiered in competition at Venice just one day before its world premiere: Pablo Larraín's Maria, starring Angelina Jolie, which landed at Netflix.

“'Queer' is a labor of love, and we couldn't be more excited that our film has found a home at a studio as bold, vital and groundbreaking as A24,” Guadagnino and Craig said in a joint statement. “We are deeply honored to finally bring Burroughs' legendary novel to life on screen for the first time, and we feel tremendous gratitude and excitement to be able to present it alongside our valued collaborators. We couldn't ask for better partners on this journey.”

Andrea Scrosati, Group COO & CEO Continental Europe, Fremantle, added: “We are thrilled that 'Queer', a true milestone in cinematic art and storytelling, will be released in the US by A24. A24 is the perfect partner for Luca Guadagnino's beautiful and tender film and we all look forward to working with this amazing team again.”

Guadagnino was scheduled to be in Venice last year for “Challengers” before the film was postponed by Amazon MGM due to the actors' strike. In 2022, he won the Silver Lion for Best Director for “Bones & All.” “Challengers” has grossed $94.2 million at the worldwide box office and is expected to be another major Oscar contender, so Guadagnino has two films that could theoretically be in the Oscar running.

CAA Media Finance brokered the deal for “Queer.”