 In 2013, Chalamet was introduced to Guadagnino by Brian Swardstrom – husband of producer Peter Spears – who immediately felt the actor had "the ambition, the intelligence, the sensitivity, the naivety, and the artistry" that was required in order to play Elio.Chalamet had already read Aciman's novel prior to being cast and described it as "a window into a young person".His character, 17-year-old Elio, is fluent in three languages