Daniel Craig Laughs Off Question About a 'Gay James Bond' at Venice Press Conference forQueer

Mar. 15, 2025

Daniel Craig.Photo:Alessandra Benedetti - Corbis/Corbis via Getty; Sony Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection

Alessandra Benedetti - Corbis/Corbis via Getty; Sony Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection

Daniel Craigfielded a question aboutJames Bond’s sexuality while discussing his gay dramaQueerat theVenice Film Festival.During a festivalpress conferenceheld Tuesday, Sept. 3, a reporter asked Craig, 56, and hisQueerdirectorLuca Guadagninowhether they thought the iconic British spy character could be depicted as gay while asking Guadagnino, 53, what went into casting Craig for his new film.“Guys, let’s be adults in the room for a second,” Guadagninoresponded, after the question drew laughter from Craig and a number of press conference attendees. “There is no way around the fact that nobody would ever know James Bond’s desires, period.““Now, the important thing is that he does his missions properly,” the director added, drawing laughter from attendees and Craig again. “Darling, I adore you,” Guadagnino then said to Craig as he patted the actor on the back of the head.Daniel Craig in 2021’s No Time To Die.Nicola Dove/MGM/THA/ShutterstockNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Craig portrayed Bond across five movies released between 2006 and 2021. Hedecided to stop playing the characterafter 2021’sNo Time To Die. Eon Productions, which produces theJames Bondfilm series, has not yet announced who will play 007 in future films.The actor and Guadagnino collaborated onQueer, in which Craig plays a man who finds a romantic connection with a younger partner (Drew Starkey) while living in Mexico City in 1950, per thefestival’s synopsis.Craig’s other famous leading character, the detective Benoit Blanc from theKnives Outmovies, wasdepicted as gayin that series' 2022 entryGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.Daniel Craig in 2012’s Skyfall.Francois Duhamel/Columbia Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection"I have been an admirer of this gentleman for a long time despite his looks and [his prestige] and I had this intuition that I suffocated within me,” Guadagnino told reporters Tuesday, while saying he initially did not think Craig would take up an offer to star inQueer.“I’m pragmatic — you have to make movies, you cannot daydream,” he said of Craig’s casting. “A gentleman that is in the room was really the one who was not pragmatic and said to me, ‘What about Daniel Craig?’ And I said ‘I thought about it, but he’s never going to say yes,’ and he said to me, ‘Let’s ask,’ and he said yes. And the yes was a definitive yes. He’s one of the greatest actors and it’s a privilege to work with someone like him.”

Daniel Craigfielded a question aboutJames Bond’s sexuality while discussing his gay dramaQueerat theVenice Film Festival.

During a festivalpress conferenceheld Tuesday, Sept. 3, a reporter asked Craig, 56, and hisQueerdirectorLuca Guadagninowhether they thought the iconic British spy character could be depicted as gay while asking Guadagnino, 53, what went into casting Craig for his new film.

“Guys, let’s be adults in the room for a second,” Guadagninoresponded, after the question drew laughter from Craig and a number of press conference attendees. “There is no way around the fact that nobody would ever know James Bond’s desires, period.”

“Now, the important thing is that he does his missions properly,” the director added, drawing laughter from attendees and Craig again. “Darling, I adore you,” Guadagnino then said to Craig as he patted the actor on the back of the head.

Daniel Craig in 2021’s No Time To Die.Nicola Dove/MGM/THA/Shutterstock

Nicola Dove/MGM/THA/Shutterstock

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Craig portrayed Bond across five movies released between 2006 and 2021. Hedecided to stop playing the characterafter 2021’sNo Time To Die. Eon Productions, which produces theJames Bondfilm series, has not yet announced who will play 007 in future films.

The actor and Guadagnino collaborated onQueer, in which Craig plays a man who finds a romantic connection with a younger partner (Drew Starkey) while living in Mexico City in 1950, per thefestival’s synopsis.

Craig’s other famous leading character, the detective Benoit Blanc from theKnives Outmovies, wasdepicted as gayin that series' 2022 entryGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.

Daniel Craig in 2012’s Skyfall.Francois Duhamel/Columbia Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection

Francois Duhamel/Columbia Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection

“I have been an admirer of this gentleman for a long time despite his looks and [his prestige] and I had this intuition that I suffocated within me,” Guadagnino told reporters Tuesday, while saying he initially did not think Craig would take up an offer to star inQueer.

“I’m pragmatic — you have to make movies, you cannot daydream,” he said of Craig’s casting. “A gentleman that is in the room was really the one who was not pragmatic and said to me, ‘What about Daniel Craig?’ And I said ‘I thought about it, but he’s never going to say yes,’ and he said to me, ‘Let’s ask,’ and he said yes. And the yes was a definitive yes. He’s one of the greatest actors and it’s a privilege to work with someone like him.”

source: people.com