Over the years since Call Me by Your Name premiered, the idea of a sequel has often resurfaced — encouraged in part by André Aciman’s follow-up novel Find Me and by earlier comments from director Luca Guadagnino himself. At different points, the filmmaker openly discussed the possibility of returning to Elio and Oliver’s story.
In April 2020, Guadagnino confirmed to Variety that he had spoken with Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer, and other cast members about a potential continuation. At the time, the project was framed as something still very much alive, even if undefined.
More recently, however, the director has made it clear that there are no immediate plans to move forward with a sequel.
“The truth of the matter is, my heart is still there, but I’m working on this movie now, and I’m hopefully going to do ‘Scarface’ soon, and I have many projects and so will focus on this side of the Atlantic and the movies I want to make.”
Guadagnino explained that while Call Me by Your Name remains important to him, his attention has shifted toward other projects. He is currently working on Bones and All, an adaptation of Camille DeAngelis’s novel, and his first feature fully set in the United States.
In interviews, he has spoken about how strongly American cinema and culture have shaped him as a filmmaker.
“I’ve been totally influenced by the American culture, American cinema and now, American landscape.”
“So I’m very happy and proud that I’ve finally come to this shore. The last few months have been wonderful for me to get to know this part of the country, which is beautiful and less known.”
That shift in focus has also affected any potential continuation of Elio and Oliver’s story. Guadagnino revealed that early conversations had taken place before the pandemic, but they were ultimately paused.
“Before coronavirus, I made a trip to the United States to meet a screenwriter I love very much, whose name I don’t want to say, to talk about the second part. Unfortunately we had to put it on hold,” he said.
For now, that pause appears indefinite. While Guadagnino has never completely ruled out revisiting the world of Call Me by Your Name, he has been careful not to frame it as a promise. The film’s ending, with Oliver returning to the United States and Elio left to reflect on what they shared, remains intact — a closing note that many viewers feel does not necessarily ask for continuation.
At the moment, Guadagnino seems more interested in exploring new stories, new landscapes, and new creative challenges. Whether Elio and Oliver’s paths will ever cross again on screen remains an open question, but it is no longer something the director is actively pursuing.
For fans, the film continues to exist as it always has: complete in itself, and open to being revisited rather than extended.
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