Rocketman star Taron Egerton has defended his own casting as Elton John, despite identifying as straight.
Though personally selected by Elton himself, and by his husband David Furnish, who also produces the film, the casting of a heterosexual man as a gay icon has earned criticism in some fringe circles for denying queer roles to queer actors.
Related: New featurette offers a glimpse of the weird and surreal look of ‘Rocketman’
In a new interview with Attitude, Egerton has answered his critics. “It’s easy for me to sit here as a white, heterosexual man and say I should be able to play a part I want,” he admits. “But I completely understand why a gay actor would feel that this is an opportunity for which they would be better suited. The way I feel about it is that Elton asked me to play him in a movie about his life. I am proud and privileged to be playing this person who happens to be gay. I want to live in a world where people are excited about playing people who are different from themselves. I believe that there is something inclusive and progressive about that.”
Egerton, for his part, has long supported the queer community and has assured nervous fans that Rocketman will not undergo any cuts to the frank depiction of gay life.
Rocketman opens in cinemas May 31.
Trailer below:
Chrisk
Hollywoods just not ready to put an openly gay guy in a movie playing a gay guy.
whateverokok
Elton personally selected him. I think It’s Elton’s choice who should play him.
DCguy
The author said “”Though personally selected by Elton himself, and by his husband David Furnish, who also produces the film, the casting of a heterosexual man as a gay icon has earned criticism in some fringe circles for denying queer roles to queer actors.””
Considering Queerty itself has done multiple articles on Hollywood bigotry and it’s unwillingness to cast LGBT actors it’s odd that they would say the only complaints are in “Fringe” circles.
And by “Fringe” does the author mean LGBT circles?
DCguy
Except for the homosexuality he probably had in him last night.
Geeker
Who?
Kanaka4127
Really?
Herman75
For that manner, a real cannibal should have played Hannibal Lechter. Nice job Hollywood.
JasonL8
Are you really comparing LGBTQ people to cannibals? Being gay is not a disgusting manner or a job. It’s life and culture and roots into a deeper meaning of self identity
JasonL8
Add this to another list of movies where gay icons and characters are being played by straight actors. Two Lenard Bernstein films are being played by two straight actors and don’t forget Disney Jungle Cruise first openly identifying gay character under their banner is played by a straight guy. I know it’s Elton choice to have this actor play him but is it that hard to find the best gay actor to play himself and share the spotlight with a fellow gay man who has been through sh*t to get work in Hollywood. We need more LGBTQ actors to play their roles on film and tv so that we can get our image and voices out there. And to not be masked by straight gay friendly actors to be the image of us.
Richard Madden, a straight actor, said it’s dangerous to cast people based off of their sexuality. Hello! Hollywood has been doing this for almost 90s years. They’ve been hiring straight actors to play queer to avoid the amount of queerness on screen. Elton John should be ashamed of himself along with the straight actors in this movie. Not one single queer actor in any of the major roles in a prominent gay movie. They are not ally to the LGBTQ actors or to the community. They say they are but they go taking queer roles and gay baiting us with sex scenes, queer lingo, and music. That’s enough gayness so no need to hire gay people (eye roll). Support us by hiring the best of us. It’s that simple.
That’s why I congratulate shows like Pose, Special, and The Other Two. Where they hire LGBTQ actors who we see often but never had the opportunity and they are all talented. Wish they would get more spotlight instead of the straight blokes and the queer people who only support straight artists. I’m not supporting any straight playing gay/ trans role until there’s an even field. So blow off your high horse Elton and straight mumbo jumbo false Queer supporters because you’re all bullspit.