Omar Apollo is set to star in Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer,” an adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ 1985 semi-autobiographical novel. The upcoming indie film, which was revealed as part the Venice Film Festival Lineup on Tuesday, will also star Daniel Craig as the counterculture author’s alter ego and “Outer Banks” star Drew Starkey.

Set in Mexico City in the 1940s — though the movie is said to be shot in Rome’s refurbished Cinecittà Studios — “Queer” follows the story of Lee (Craig), who lives among American college students and bar owners living off part-time jobs and GI Bill benefits following World War II. The book’s themes touch on sex and drug abuse, with the protagonist becoming infatuated with a younger, discharged American Navy serviceman named Allerton (Starkey). Allerton is a drug user, who, though indifferent to Lee’s advances, eventually relents.

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American playwright Justin Kuritzkes, who penned Guadagnino’s “Challengers” starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist, has adapted the Burroughs novel for the big screen, in continued collaboration with the Italian director. The film will premiere at the 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival, running from Aug. 28 to Sept. 7. 

Apollo recently released a 14-song LP, “God Said No,” telling Variety that he was largely inspired by film scores. On his own on-screen interests, Apollo offered, “I feel like I need a little more training and studying when it comes to [acting and screenwriting]. With music, I fixate on [a producer or artist] and go through their whole discography, so I plan to take a similar approach with film… I’ve been doing music for almost 10 years, and only now am I feeling completely confident in my abilities. I have so many ideas that I would love to actualize in film one day, but I’m not rushing the process.”

He added that he and Guadagnino first met through Loewe creative director Jonathan Anderson, who did the costumes for “Challengers.”

In an interview for Variety‘s 2022 Hitmakers event, where Apollo received the Future Icon Award, Apollo expressed his desire to act, saying: “The transition of musician to actor… is always kind of funny but whatever, I’ll do it!”

Watch that interview below.

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