Jul 24
Omar Apollo Set to Co-Star in Luca Guadagnino's 'Queer'
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Out pop star Omar Apollo is set to make his feature film debut in Luca Guadagnino's "Queer," an adaptation of the William S. Burroughs novel premiering at next month's Venice Film Festival.
Though no details are yet available about what role the "Spite" singer will play in the film, the casting news means that Apollo will share the screen with "James Bond" and "Knives Out" icon Daniel Craig, as well as "Outer Banks" star Drew Starkey.
Apollo took to Instagram to share the news.
Variety reported that Apollo has spoken about his interest in adding acting to his resume, and explained his approach to artistic endeavors.
"With music, I fixate on [a producer or artist] and go through their whole discography, so I plan to take a similar approach with film," he told the entertainment news outlet. "I have so many ideas that I would love to actualize in film one day, but I'm not rushing the process."
Variety noted that "'Queer' follows the story of Lee [Craig], who lives among American college students and bar owners living off part-time jobs and GI Bill benefits following World War II. The book's themes touch on sex and drug abuse, with the protagonist becoming infatuated with a younger, discharged American Navy serviceman named Allerton [Starkey]."
The film's premiere will mark the second feature from Guadagnino to premiere this year; the acclaimed filmmaker saw his love triangle drama "Challengers" become a critical and commercial success upon its release this past spring.
The addition of Apollo to a film starring Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey ups the sex appeal a notch, and the movie is already expected to be an erotic scorcher. At an appearance at the Pesaro International Film Festival in Italy last month, the celebrated director told his audience that "Queer," is his "most personal" film and promised abundant (and "quite scandalous") sex scenes.
Star Daniel Craig has not been shy about playing queer, having featured in the Francis Bacon biopic "Love is the Devil" as the famed painter's male lover. He has also portrayed his "Knives Out" detective as gay, and even intimated during his 15-year, five-film reign as James Bond that the celebrated secret agent was bisexual.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
