Call Me By Your Name author reveals what happens to Elio and Oliver in acclaimed gay novel’s sequel
The followup novel introduces an older Elio, who is in (another) relationship with an older man
Call Me By Your Name author André Aciman has said that followup novel Find Me “ends the tale” of Elio and Oliver.
The long-awaited sequel, published on October 29, revisits the characters years on from the unhappy ending to Call Me By Your Name.
In an interview with British Vogue, Aciman opened up the new novel, the first part of which largely eschews Elio and Oliver in favour of a story focused on Elio’s father, Sami.
He said: “The characters never leave you. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve attempted to take them up and go on with their lives.
“I always started with Elio as the main character, which I realised, subsequently, was a big mistake.
“Then, just by pure happenstance, I began writing about the father, and then I knew Elio was going to show up from the wings — and I knew I had a book.”
Elio is in another relationship with an older man in Call Me By Your Name sequel
The book eventually reintroduces Elio as a professional piano player in his 30s in a relationship with Marcel, an older man.
Aciman said: “I love the mix of young, old, old, young; the fact that one provides the kind of energy that the other probably lacks, and the older person provides the stability, the gentleness and the wisdom that comes with age.
“I find that more interesting than having this kind of sublime parity between people: she is 45, he is 45.”
Elio in Call Me By Your Name
The book does eventually get around to a reunion for Elio and Oliver, but Aciman says both have changed since the events of the first book.
Sequel ‘ends the tale’ of Elio and Oliver.
He said: “They are clearly more mature now and know how fragile life can be. They have both had other relationships, they know that they have to be careful and that a separation, should it occur again, would be devastating.
“Find Me gave me a sense of closure and finality. Of course, life is full of surprises and no road is without bumps or wrong turns. But I think this ends the tale of Elio and Oliver.”
Aciman said he would “love it” if the novel is turned into a followup film for Call Me By Your Name.
He said: “I would even be happy to participate in writing the screenplay.
“As soon as the [first] movie came out, everybody was talking about a sequel — but I don’t know that it’s being talked about now. They’re all extremely busy.”
Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer and director Luca Guadagnino have all previously said they would be up for returning for a sequel.
