Armie Hammer reveals he’s already been approached for Call Me By Your Name 2
Armie Hammer has revealed he already knows the plot of the planned Call Me By Your Name sequel.
The acclaimed gay film, which picked up an Oscar this month, introduced audiences to the endearing romance between Elio (Timothée Chalamet) and Oliver (Armie Hammer).
Director Luca Guadagnino has confirmed plans for a follow-up, before suggesting that it would tackle issues including the AIDS crisis.
And Hammer this week confirmed he had already been pitched the plot for the follow-up.
Speaking to IndieWire, he said: “Dude, [Guadagnino] broke down the whole script for us
“I mean, it’s not a finished script, but he’s got all the ideas for it.
“Luca’s all gung-ho about it, and by the way, if Luca’s doing it, I think we’re all gung-ho about it.”
Despite going on to bigger projects after the film, Hammer confirmed he would definitely be up for a futue installment – even if his character was no longer the focus.
He said: “You know, the experience of making the first one was so pure and beautiful that it wouldn’t matter how big my role was.
“If the same people are involved, I’d do it all over again.”
Everyone’s just happy to have [the film] done.
“We all supported each other. This would’ve been a much different process if we didn’t actually love each other.”
Guadagnino previously said of the second film: “I think [the AIDS crisis] going to be a very relevant part of the story.
“I think Elio will be a cinephile, and I’d like him to be in a movie theater watching Paul Vecchiali’s Once More [a 1988 film about the AIDS crisis].
“That could be the first scene [in the sequel].”
He added: “The novel has 40 pages at the end that goes through the next 20 years of the lives of Elio and Oliver, so there is some sort of indication through the intention of author Andre Aciman that the story can continue.
“In my opinion, ‘Call Me’ can be the first chapter of the chronicles of the life of these people that we met in this movie, and if the first one is a story of coming of age and becoming a young man, maybe the next chapter will be, what is the position of the young man in the world, what does he want — and what is left a few years later of such an emotional punch that made him who he is?”
Despite its critical success, Call Me By Your Name has not be a big hit with the family of Hammer.
The actor recently revealed that his parents are yet to see the film.
Speaking to Mr Porter, Hammer said he doesn’t know what his family’s reaction would have been if he had had a gay relationship like the one portrayed in the film.
He said: “I don’t know. I know what I’d hope, but I don’t know.
“I am excited for my dad to see Call Me By Your Name. I think that he would have the capacity to get it and be proud of me for doing this work”.
The actor revealed that his mother may not even see the film, despite the rave reviews and Oscars buzz.
He said: “It’s always awkward to say, ‘Come to this movie where you can see my ass and watch me give a blow job’.
“My mum is more conservative. I don’t know if she’ll see it.”
In real life Hammer is straight, and has two kids with his wife Elizabeth.
Despite the extremely positive response to the film, some have questioned the casting of two straight men in the gay love story.
Explaining the decision, director Luis Guadagnino said: “This film is about the blossoming of love and desire, no matter where it comes from and toward what. So I couldn’t have ever thought of casting with any sort of gender agenda.
“I think people are so beautiful and complex as creatures that as much as I am fascinated with gender theory — I’ve studied [American gender theorist] Judith Butler for so long — I prefer much more never to investigate or label my performers in any way.
“I only cast the actors and actresses I fall in love with — truly having an emotion for them, an anticipation and enthusiasm when seeing them — and I believe that my emotional confidence in them blends into chemistry. It’s always been like that, and I hope I won’t be wrong in the future.”
Guadagnino also answered questions about why there are no explicit gay sex scenes in the film.
He said: “I wasn’t interested at all. The tone would’ve been very different from what I was looking for.
“I wanted the audience to completely rely on the emotional travel of these people and feel first love. I didn’t want the audience to find any difference or discrimination toward these characters.
“It was important to me to create this powerful universality, because the whole idea of the movie is that the other person makes you beautiful — enlightens you, elevates you.
“The other is often confronted with rejection, fear or a sense of dread, but the welcoming of the other is a fantastic thing to do, particularly in this historical moment.”
