There’s been talk of a Call Me By Your Name sequel since the film first premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.
And, sure, five-plus years ago, the idea made a lot of sense! Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino’s sweeping queer romance—adapted from the André Aciman novel of the same name—was a critical darling, racked up a handful of major Oscar nods, and effectively solidified star Timothée Chalamet’s rise to movie stardom.
Heck, Aciman even wrote a sequel (2019’s Find Me), so it’s not like Guadagnino was wanting for source material.
However, in the years since, there’s been one glaring issue that’s really *ahem* hammered home why a direct follow-up to CMBYN might not be such a great idea. We’re talking, of course, about star Armie Hammer, who has been hit with allegations of sexual abuse, was consequently dropped or edited out of a number of films, and has even been the subject of cannibalism rumors.
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Related: Creepy ‘House of Hammer’ docuseries may be the final nail in the coffin for Armie Hammer’s career
That last point feels especially ironic because Guadagnino’s most recent film, Bones And All, is a darkly metaphorical love story about a pair of fine young cannibals—reuniting the director with Chalamet, opposite Taylor Russell (Escape Room, Waves).
Adapted from a 2015 YA novel by Camille DeAngelis, any lines that can be drawn between Bones And All and Hammer are purely coincidental, with the director denying his former star had any influence or inspiration on the project: “Any correlation with this kind of innuendo and silliness is preposterous.”
But it’s not like Guadagnino’s trying to completely distance himself from Hammer now that the actor has become persona non grata. No, in a new Variety profile, the filmmaker says he’s still holding on to hope for a CMBYN sequel—and that he’d want Hammer to return!
When speaking broadly about his interest in revisiting the story of Elio (Chalamet) and Oliver (Hammer), Guadagnino said it’s still “a wish and a desire,” having not made up his mind about the specifics of the story. “There is no hypothesis, so there is no movie.”
But that door is far from sealed shut. “I would love to make a second and third and fourth chapter of all my movies,” Guadagnino shared. “Why? Because I truly love the actors I work with, so I want to repeat the joy of doing what we did together.”
You’re probably wondering if Hammer falls under that umbrella, right? Well, don’t worry—Variety totally asked if he’d work with Hammer again, specifically on another chapter to CMBYM. “Yeah, of course,” the director responded.
Look, we’re no industry professionals, but… we think you’re going to have some trouble convincing a distributor to sign on to that one, Luca! Unless there are some theaters in the Cayman Islands with availability.
Related: Is Timothée Chalamet’s peach the sexiest scene in movie history? Science says…
Perhaps sensing he might have to elaborate, Guadagnino quickly changed the subject, instead pitching another CMBYN follow-up that would be more of a spin-off: He wants to see a film about the life of Mafalda, Elio’s family’s housekeeper, played by Vanda Capriolo (whose only other acting credit is for Guadagnino’s Suspiria remake).
The filmmaker calls the idea of a Mafalda movie “divine,” adding, “I would be very interested in seeing what is the life of Mafalda when she’s not around the family.”
And you know what? We would, too! Mafalda’s an under-sung queen who more than deserves her own moment in the sun. And they could even keep it queer by having her catch the eye of another woman at the local watering hole (played by Tilda Swinton, naturally).
Honestly, anything’s better than a sequel that requires bringing Hammer back into the fold. Maybe Guadagnino should watch Discovery+’s House Of Hammer documentary before he starts making any other plans…
The Hammer business aside, Guadagnino’s Bones And All is now playing in select theaters, and it’s been largely well received (it currently stands at 89% on Rotten Tomatoes). Plus, it’s been hailed as “the next great queer horror movie,” so it’s definitely one we’ll be keeping our eyes on.
Related: Timothée Chalamet is “Demon Twink” personified in this cannibal love story
Stan H
Well Mr. Hammer has not been convicted of anything.
Neoprene
This is Queerty world. Facts just get in the way of the drama.
m
Agreed!
southernway
I hope so -hope it happens
Dixie Rect
Queerly used to be interesting. Now it’s just recycled celebrity garbage.
Godabed
No thanks to Grooming & Cheating: the sequel.
I still don’t know how they tried to market this as a love story, and not what it was, adultery, a summer fling, grooming an underage boy. But then attempting to explain it that it was the 80’s like that makes it better, and it’s a different culture like that changes the age of Elio. “He’s so smart and mature for a 17 year old.”… That will get you registered as a sex offender. This isn’t jeopardy: answer “the things that Kevin Spacey said to Anthony Rapp”.
They really tried it with this film. It would be nice if Hollywood would stop pushing problematic cis white male gay narratives, especially when it pushes predatory behavior, that has long been a problem in our culture, we don’t need to encourage it or associate with it.
dragonboi
The movie takes place in Italy and the age of consent there is 14 years old. Doesn’t make it right, but different countries have have different consent ages and same with countries and their drinking age. In Italy it is 18, Spain is 16
Strangely
Thank you for seeing what is right there on screen. By the end of the film I was boiling at the whole pretence, by the makers, critics and media. Its a ridiculous story, that romanticises an illegality. No wonder a sequel has taken so long. It will be a harder sell.
Joshooeerr
This article really is complete garbage. Saying there are “cannibalism rumours” re: Hammer is utterly ridiculous. Even those who have been working hard to cancel Hammer have never suggested anything like actual cannibalism. The guy indulged in some silly fantasy-talk along the lines of “I want to eat you”, which is about as close to cannibalism as a mother nibbling on her baby’s toes and saying “I could eat you up”. So enough with the cannibalism nonsense.
Secondly, anyone who has actually read Find Me, the sequel to Call Me By Your Name, knows that it is in no way source material for a movie sequel. The novel itself is extremely slight, and only one of five chapters concerns itself with Elio and Oliver. It would amount to two or three scenes, with a duration of barely ten minutes. So an actual movie sequel would require an entire new story, quite apart from anything in Find Me. Ergo: there is no sequel anywhere on the horizon, so anything Guadagnino says about working with Hammer again is entirely hypothetical. But kudos to him for saying he would work with Hammer.
cuteguy
If Armie Dahmer is such a risk then re cast him. Timothy is the star nowadays. Besides, they could replace the Cannibal with a real lgbtq actor like Luke MacFarlane
Diplomat
Prefect. Hammer wasn’t that great in the film anyway.
bachy
omigod that is a great casting idea, cuteguy! I really don’t care about the so-called “cannibalism rumours,” but I also wasn’t that thrilled with Hammer’s performance, which I found too opaque. MacFarlane would be able to transmit the gay emotions relevant to the narrative.
inbama
It was a beautiful film, and though directed by Luca Guadagnino, its Oscar-winning screenplay by James Ivory set the tone that made it feel like one of the great Merchant/Ivory films like Room With A View, Maurice and Howard’s End.
As both Ivory and André Aciman, the author of the book, have rejected the idea of a sequel, this is probably a bad idea.
“I don’t and I wouldn’t want to be involved,” Ivory has said. “I can’t imagine having to make Timothée Chalamet look 45.”
Jim
I”m for one am glad there will be no sequel.
Maybe in 25 years or more so that it can explore also, how times have changed, but it was a story in and of itself.
It stands alone.
Man About Town
Cameron Scheetz continues to sound like a tween girl at a Justin Bieber concert circa 2011.
Winsocki
I will call you by your name “skinny twink” … never saw this movie not interested in twinks
Terrycloth
If they do make a sequel I hope they pick up the pace. The first dragged
.was too long..Armie I found him.boring .he acted like he really didn’t want to be there.plus he looks 40 ish and was supposed to be 27 ?? please..I didn’t buy their relationship although Timothee made the film. I knew he was going to become a big star.
Kill off Armie and have Elio find a new love
Diplomat
“He acted like he didn’t want to be there”…. zactly my thought
LAGuy
Recast his part. I never much felt there was chemistry between them anyways. Timothy was the breakout star in the film. Wasn’t Armie.
Paulie P
the follow up book is terrible so i hope they don’t waste the time and money.
IanHunter
He has sexual fantasies, and likes being a dom with consenting partners. Not on trial, I hope he makes the sequel. The documentary was and is garbage.
dbmcvey
Has anyone alleged he’s actually committed cannibalism?
DuMaurier
No. The article slightly clarifies the clickbait headline by referring to the sexual abuse allegations—the actual reason for Hammer’s exile from Hollywood. But it still alludes to cannibalism “rumors”, when there have never been any; he messaged cannibal fantasies to women.
still_onthemark
Alleging he committed literal cannibalism is pretty much the same as alleging he is a murderer. Unless they think he merely chopped off someone’s arm (for a snack) or something.
bachy
Is eating pu*ssy cannibalism?
Rugby8
Key Word Being ALLEGED.
2nd time this week I truly believe you should change your name to Queerty National Enquirer.
Yellow Journalism – disgusting, and embarrassing.
You want to be taken seriously, and you are just Headline Mongers – Truth Stretchers
Try acting with some CLASS
…..incredibly disappointing
linedrive
I don’t think it needs a sequel but I’m still in love with this movie, including Hammer’s performance. I don’t understand those saying he didn’t seem engaged. It was a passion project for him, and I found his portrayal of Oliver to be quite moving. He even performs the audio version of the book, which is fantastic. Of COURSE Chalamet stole everyone’s heart (including mine) because he was just that good and Elio was such a sympathetic character. But I thought both leads were very strong and the movie was pretty special as a result.
wikidBSTN
Call ME By Your Name – I loved both the book and the movie. But the written sequel – “Find Me” was a disappointment to say the least.
I’m all for sequel to the movie – but do not base it upon the sequel that Acimen wrote.
Just.my.opinion
CALL ME BY YOUR NAME is not a very good movie. I cannot imagine that a sequel will be any better.
loren_1955
ROFL…what a childish, immature title and article. Sure shows how provincial some minds are.
tommyboy5023
I am amazed at the near universal rejection of this Oscar nominated movie from within the community. Having said that, does anybody think its odd for a Luca Guaragnino directed, Timothee Chalamet lead actor in a movie about cannabolism?