Daniel Craig, accompanied by his wife Rachel Weisz, made a dramatic entrance in Venice ahead of the premiere of his eagerly awaited film Queer. The British actor, renowned for his iconic role as James Bond, surprised fans with his new look—long blond hair—as they arrived at Marco Polo Airport. The couple is in Venice for the Venice Film Festival, where Queer will premiere on September 3.
Craig’s new hairstyle is generating considerable buzz and is believed to be part of his transformation for his upcoming role in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. This film, which began shooting in June, will see Craig return as Detective Benoit Blanc in the third installment of the Knives Out series, set for release next year.
For his Venice arrival, Craig opted for a casual look, wearing a white t-shirt and jeans. In contrast, Weisz was elegant in a black dress and sunglasses.
Queer, directed by Luca Guadagnino, is generating significant interest before its premiere. The film, adapted from William Burroughs’ semi-autobiographical novella, stars Craig as William Lee, an American expat and war veteran. Lee enters into a complex relationship with a younger man, Eugene Allerton, played by Drew Starkey. The movie has attracted attention for its explicit content, including a scene where Craig’s character performs oral sex on Allerton.
Venice Film Festival director Alberto Barbera has lauded Craig’s performance in Queer, describing it as “the performance of a lifetime” and suggesting it could lead to Craig’s first Oscar nomination.
The 81st Venice International Film Festival, organized by La Biennale di Venezia, runs from August 28 to September 7, 2024. Alongside the Queer premiere, the festival will feature several other major films. George Clooney and his wife Amal are in Venice for the debut of Wolfs, a heist thriller directed by Jon Watts, which reunites Clooney with Brad Pitt. Both actors are expected to attend the September 1 screening.
Other highlights include the premiere of Joker: Folie à Deux on September 4, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga. Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton will be present for Pedro Almodovar’s English-language debut The Room Next Door, while Nicole Kidman will screen her erotic thriller Babygirl on August 30. The festival will conclude on September 7 with the screening of Pupi Avati’s The American Backyard, bringing a memorable event to a close with star power and cinematic excellence.