Daniel Craig has officially entered the Oscar race.

The 56-year-old James Bond star premiered his new film “Queer” at the 2024 Venice Film Festival on Tuesday, where it received a remarkable nine-minute standing ovation. Directed by Luca Guadagnino (“Call Me By Your Name”), the storyline is set in Mexico City and features Craig as William Lee, an American living abroad.

The film’s synopsis from Venice states, “His meeting with Eugene Allerton, a newcomer to the city, reveals the possibility of forming a meaningful bond.” Drew Starkey plays Eugene, and the film is adapted from William S. Burroughs’ novel.

According to IndieWire’s Ryan Lattanzio, “Queer” contains some of the most explicit gay sex scenes seen in mainstream cinema, while Vulture’s Nate Jones describes them as being “significantly more explicit” than the intimate moments from “Brokeback Mountain” and “Call Me by Your Name.”

At a Venice press conference, the first question raised was about the experience of filming the sex scenes. A journalist remarked that they are “unlike anything we’ve seen in a mainstream movie,” not only due to their explicit nature but also the “joy” they convey.

“Shooting a sex scene on a film set isn’t exactly intimate,” Craig humorously replied. “There’s a group of people watching. Our goal was to make it as touching and genuine as we could.”

Craig also praised his co-star, Starkey, describing him as a “wonderful and talented actor.” He mentioned that they found ways to enjoy the process, including practicing dance moves together prior to filming, noting that “dancing with someone is a great way to break the ice.”

Starkey shared that both he and Craig felt encouraged to “explore new possibilities” throughout the film.

“Rolling around on the floor with someone on just the second day of meeting is a fun way to get acquainted,” he joked.

Guadagnino reflected on the profound connection between the two characters, highlighting the “romanticism of adventure with someone you love.” “Queer” marks the director’s second film of the year, following the tennis drama “Challengers.”

Craig is already generating Oscar buzz for his performance, with many predicting a Best Actor nomination at the 2025 Academy Awards. He stepped away from the James Bond role after “No Time to Die” in 2021, with “Queer” being his first project outside the James Bond or “Knives Out” franchises since 2018.

During the Venice press conference, a reporter posed a question about the possibility of a gay James Bond, drawing laughs and prompting Guadagnino to respond, “Let’s act like adults, please.” Craig didn’t directly address that question but mentioned he accepted the role in “Queer” to collaborate with Guadagnino and that he would want to be part of the film if he were simply an audience member.