It was the summer of 1983. Or rather, it was the winter of 2017 when everyone thought they were in Northern Italy, crying over a fireplace. Call Me By Your Name didn't just land in theaters; it became a lifestyle. It was linen shirts, Sufjan Stevens on a loop, and a sudden, collective obsession with apricots.
Then everything went quiet.
If you’ve been waiting for a sequel, you’ve probably noticed the radio silence is getting louder. Honestly, what started as a "sure thing" Oscar darling morphed into one of the most complicated legacies in modern cinema. You can’t talk about the rise and fall of this franchise without talking about the mess behind the scenes.
The Peak of the "Summer of 83"
When Luca Guadagnino’s film hit Sundance, it was basically instant magic. The movie made Timothée Chalamet a superstar overnight. Literally. Before this, he was just that kid from Interstellar or Lady Bird. After? He was the face of a generation.
The movie was lean, shot on a tiny $3.5 million budget. It ended up pulling in over $41 million worldwide. That’s a massive win for an R-rated indie about a queer romance. Critics loved the nuance. They loved the 17-year-old Elio and the 24-year-old Oliver. People weren't just watching it; they were living in it.
The awards followed. James Ivory, at 89 years old, became the oldest person to win a competitive Oscar for the screenplay. The buzz was so high that Guadagnino started talking about a "sequel" almost immediately. He didn't want to call it a sequel, though. He called it "the chronicles of Elio." He imagined a series of films where we watched Chalamet grow up, sort of like the Before Sunrise trilogy.
🔗 Read more: Shamea Morton and the Real Housewives of Atlanta: What Really Happened to Her Peach
Why the Sequel Hit a Brick Wall
Everything was moving forward. André Aciman even wrote a follow-up book called Find Me in 2019. It seemed like a slam dunk. But then, 2021 happened.
You’ve probably heard the name Armie Hammer in a context that has nothing to do with acting. In early 2021, a series of disturbing allegations against Hammer surfaced online. We're talking about leaked messages involving BDSM fantasies, but it went way darker—allegations of sexual assault and even bizarre references to cannibalism.
The fall was instant. Hammer was dropped by his agency, WME. He was scrubbed from projects like Shotgun Wedding.
The "cannibalism" thing became a weird, dark irony when Guadagnino released Bones and All in 2022—a movie literally about cannibals starring Chalamet. The director swore it was a coincidence. "It didn't dawn on me," he told Deadline. But for the fans, the "Oliver" they loved was gone. You can't really make a romance sequel when one half of the couple is persona non grata in Hollywood.
The Age Gap Debate
While the Hammer scandal was the final nail, the movie’s reputation was already shifting. Social media is a fickle place. By 2018 and 2019, people started looking at the 17-and-24 age gap through a much harsher lens.
💡 You might also like: Who is Really in the Enola Holmes 2 Cast? A Look at the Faces Behind the Mystery
Some critics, like Karamo Brown, called the film "problematic." They argued it glorified a predatory power imbalance. Others fought back, saying that in 1980s Italy, the age of consent was 14 and the story was a beautiful coming-of-age moment.
Basically, the "purity" of the film got muddied. It wasn't just a sweet summer romance anymore; it was a debate.
Where Does It Stand in 2026?
It’s been years. Timothée Chalamet is busy playing Bob Dylan and Willy Wonka. Luca Guadagnino is cranking out hits like Challengers. So, is the dream dead?
Sorta.
In recent interviews—like the one at the Telluride Film Festival—Guadagnino has softened his stance. He still talks about the "Chronicles of Elio." He’s mentioned he’d love to work with Chalamet again on this character. But notably, he’s stopped mentioning Hammer.
📖 Related: Priyanka Chopra Latest Movies: Why Her 2026 Slate Is Riskier Than You Think
If we ever see Elio again, it’ll likely be a solo story. Maybe it follows the Find Me structure where Elio is in Paris or New York, living a completely different life. But the "Oliver and Elio" magic? That ship has likely sailed for good.
What This Means for You
If you’re still a fan of the original, it’s okay to separate the art from the artist. Most people do. But if you're looking for more of that specific story, you’ve got better options than waiting for a movie that might never come.
- Read the book Find Me: It’s polarizing, but it gives you the closure the movie won't.
- Watch Bones and All: If you miss the Guadagnino/Chalamet vibe, this is the closest spiritual successor, even if it’s much bloodier.
- Listen to the Audiobook: Fun fact—Armie Hammer actually narrated the first book's audio version before the scandal. It’s a strange artifact of a different time.
The rise and fall of Call Me By Your Name is a masterclass in how fast Hollywood changes. One year you're the king of the Oscars; the next, your franchise is a "hypothesis" that no one wants to touch. For now, the best way to enjoy it is to keep that 1983 summer frozen in time. Don't look for a part two. The ending by the fireplace was always the perfect place to stop.
To keep the vibe alive without the baggage, revisit the soundtrack by Sufjan Stevens. It still holds up, even if the sequels don't.