The highly anticipated Luca Guadagnino film Queer debuts in Venice today, so Luca and star Daniel Craig were making the press rounds to talk about the film. I want to talk about the film, but I also want to talk about an interesting question that was flown their way: is James Bond gay?
The question threw the pair for a loop, but it's a great question, and we've talked about it before. We've wondered if James Bond is gay because he's a well-dressed, well-traveled man who likes a good cocktail. If that's not a stereotype of wealthy gay men, then what is? Plus James Bond's villains are all pretty sensual, especially the flirty Javier Bardem in Skyfall. We've even noticed that a lot of them have gone nude before!
A reporter asked Daniel Craig about the potential for a gay James Bond Film during the Queer press conference earlier today. Luca Guadagnino took the mic to interrupt and answer the question. He said, "Guys, let's be adults in the room for a second."
Huh? That sounded like Luca was about to go off on the reporter for a question that does admittedly sound like a prompt for the reporter to write an article such as this one (hey, game recognize game), but Luca Guadagnino took it in another direction.
The gay Italian director took it into the realm of character motivation and wondered aloud whether or not that is something that could be known and whether or not it would matter to the main reason that James Bond exists in the first place.
He went on to say, "There is no way around the fact that nobody could ever know James Bond's desires, period. The important thing is that he does his missions properly." Okay, is it just me or does it sound like Luca Guadagnino would make a GREAT director for a future James Bond movie? While the director is unabashedly gay and would highlight Bond is a sexy light, he knows that Bond's missions are first and foremost the important thing that people want to see. I'd love to see him direct action! This has me asking: Guadagnino spy thriller when?
Of course, James Bond always has a love interest, so it's clear that he doesn't get TOO distracted from his missions. Forget Bond Girls. I want Bond Boys!
That was the only talk of James Bond that they allowed themselves to venture into. Craig didn't say anything. Instead, he laughed at Luca's answer and I think that's adorable. Daniel Craig loves to bait us with queerness. He's literally the star of Queer! If you need a refresher, Queer stars Craig as an American ex-pat living in 1950s Mexico City. He falls for a male college student and the two form a relationship that is so spicy that Guadagnino said that this is the film that he's wanted to make for his entire career.
It is an adaption of a William S. Burroughs novel and Challengers screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes wrote the script. So...it's going to be hot!
