Armie Hammer ‘thrilled’ by Call Me By Your Name trolls

Armie Hammer is not surprised by the criticism he’s received for playing a man in love with a 17-year-old in Call Me By Your Name.

The movie, which is based on the 2007 book of the same name by Andre Aciman, is a coming-of-age tale which is attracting awards buzz following screenings at film festivals.

On Twitter, some people have been negative about the on-screen relationship, something The Man from U.N.C.L.E. star admits he is not exactly shocked by.

"Because I know that no-one ever lost a penny underestimating the stupidity of people," he told Sky News.

"I’m thrilled that we were able to come together and make a project that everyone was so passionate about, that is eliciting such a strong reaction."

"I mean ultimately art, in whatever medium is made to do that, so the fact that we’re doing it I think is a testament to what Luca [Guadagnino – the film’s director] was able to do."

Hammer says that he did have hesitations about taking the role of Oliver, an American scholar who falls for the son of the academic he’s staying with – but not because of the subject material.

He says it was doubts about his own abilities which made him initially cautious about saying yes.

"I didn’t think that I was able or capable as an actor to be so honest and raw and vulnerable which is so much of what this movie is about," Hammer said.

"It’s about two people making themselves so emotionally naked and exposed to another person in such an intimate and close way and if those moments didn’t work on camera then this movie wouldn’t work."

He says that following several "great" conversations with Guadagnino he took the job and is delighted he did.

"And I am now so thrilled that I took this because it pushed me and it challenged me and I couldn’t be happier about it."

His co-star Timothee Chalamet, who plays Elio, the teenager Oliver falls for, says he never considered the film a risk, because he’s a newcomer.

But he’s aware that he may be remembered for one scene involving a peach.

"I haven’t really been at the forefront of anything a lot of people have seen, so I thought worst-case scenario people might stop me in the street for a particular scene I have with a fruit in the movie, but besides that there wasn’t too much trepidation," Chalamet said.

When asked if that had happened yet, he smiled.

"Not yet, not yet, but I’m looking forward to it."

It seems likely that following the critical acclaim Call Me By Your Name has received so far, it will be a contender in the upcoming awards season.

Hammer says that while he’s heard the rumours, it’s not something he’s paying much attention to.

He describes himself as "aware but also unperturbed".

"I’ve said it before that my job essentially is over the last time the director says cut. So now what we’re doing is just like icing on the cake, I got the experience – we all got the experience of making this movie," Hammer explained.

"So anything that happens after that would just be a cherry on an already delicious cake."

Call Me By Your Name is out in cinemas in the UK on 27 October.

(c) Sky News 2017: Armie Hammer ‘thrilled’ by Call Me By Your Name trolls