Not long after the first footage debuted for the long-anticipated Elton John biopic Rocketman, reports have emerged that studio executives want a key love scene cut.
A little backstory…
Kingsman star Taron Egerton steps into the platform shoes of the musical legend, while Richard Madden (of Game of Thrones fame) plays John’s sometime manager and boyfriend John Reid. Sources describe their relationship as central to the film, and Egerton has previously stated that director Dexter Fletcher (who took over duties on Bohemian Rhapsody after the firing of Bryan Singer) intends to make a film that stays authentic to John’s homosexuality.
That would include at least one love scene between John and Reid which would also feature partial nudity from Egerton and Madden.
Related: WATCH: Taron Egerton becomes Elton John in first ‘Rocketman’ trailer
Now reports have emerged that Paramount Pictures, the studio behind the film, has asked Fletcher to cut the scene, fearing it might warrant an R rating from the MPAA. The studio fears that an R rating would render severe damage to the film’s box office prospects, whereas a PG-13 rating would help repeat the recent success of Bohemian Rhapsody, which made more than $215 million in the US alone.
That film came under criticism for “straightwasing” the bisexual character of Freddie Mercury and for its shying away from explicit gay sex scenes, though the movie made Mercury’s bisexuality clear.
Rocketman opens this May.
thisismylife247
Since when was Freddie Mercury bisexual?
Just because I had sex with women in college, and never again, doesn’t make me “bisexual”
tommyboy5023
It was the mid 70s, maybe Freddie liked the girl or she was his beard. Elton John was married for a time.
stanhope
Since NEVER!
derek mcgillicuddy
I had a salad once, so I guess I’m vegetarian.
xmas
Oh puhleeeez!!! Freddie was gayer than a lace-tied bouquet of fresh, spring flowers. Everyone who knows the slightest thing about him knows that he was a screaming Queen (get it?!). His ‘marriage’ to a woman (who happened to be a close friend) was both the expression of his inability to admit his homosexuality to himself (stemming probably from socio-cultural inhibition from his childhood) and his wish to ‘fit in’ to a world that was still hostile to minorities – as indeed, sadly, it still is almost 50 years later.
The marriage experiment didn’t last long. Even during that short period he was still seen in the leather bars and gay clubs in London, his (gay) partying was legendary and he caught the AIDS from which he died, tragically, from his highly promiscuous homosexual cruising habits. You won’t see that in the movie because big corporations didn’t want it to get a 12+ certificate as it would have lost them money, but that’s the truth.
Scott Amundsen
Thank you for making my point so clearly. A friend of mine and I got into a heated debate the other night over his “heterosexual” relationship.
Having had a wife does not make a man straight.
nm4047
It just means you are not a gold star gay.
msfrost
He freely, admitted it.
mz.sam
I too love women, but that doesn’t mean I’m a pescatarian. I also love eating salad, but that doesn’t strictly mean ‘green’ salad.
Curtispsf
I got a blowjob from a woman when I was high on Quaaludes. Does that make me bisexual? I also had sex with a father AND (later) his son. Does that mean I have Daddy or Son issues?
pingu424
Sexuality is about who you are, not what you’ve done.
DCguy
Translation: It’s ok to make a movie with gay people in it…as long as there isn’t any evidence of them being gay.
I also LOVE The Studio’s B.S. reason to hide their bigotry….”Oh gee, then 13 year olds won’t be able to see it if it’s R rated.
Sorry studio, but there aren’t any 13 year olds going to see “The Elton John Story” just like I”m willing to bet that 95% of the people who saw Bohemian Rhapsody were over 18.
That said, here’s a question, why does the MPAA still get away with giving R ratings to gay content that would get a PG-13 for straight content?
ptb2016
Exactly what I was going to ask, why is it okay to have srt8scene for PG 13 but not a gay one? And it won’t be hard core so what’s the problem? It’s about a gay artist. Or are they trying to whitewash that out?
xanadude
Hell, they have sex scenes on cable TV these days. But why even try for PG/13 anyway?
joseph_buscarino
Here I am is a joke. Don’t feed the trolls people. Lets keep it real, Gay sex scenes don’t make people feel uncomfortable, or that No one wants to see them, It makes straight males uncomfortable, or at least those who are unsure of their own sexuality. In fact lot of hetro women are turned on by the idea of two men together, so why do we constantly have to bow down to what “straight” men want. This is an elton john story, who is gay, why do we have to water it down to make it more palatable to a bunch of homophobes. Here is a concept, if you are uncomfortable with the reality of a gay man’s life and his story, Don’t watch a movie about Elton john.
kputnam
I’m seriously not trying to defend troll nation up there, but I do have to agree on one point, though without all the self hatred dripping in homophobia. I would rather have a biopic about Sir Elton John that deals head on about his struggle to come out and it’s ramifications after. I want dialogue showing how conflicted he felt, and about his learning to flourish in his sexuality. I think sex scenes are a trope in film and rarely illuminate the narrative. There are exceptions of course. Monster’s Ball, Brokeback Mountain, Nyphomania. A Beautiful Thing. And a lot more. But I think it is reductive to say a movie will be straightwashed if Elton isn’t screwing somebody. Nor is it a gay biopic if his sexuality is never discussed but there is a steamy gay sex scene. If his life was ruled by sex and it caused problems, or if he was having sex when he got terrible news, that would make sense to have it. But the mere act of having sex isn’t a plot point. I still want to see it though, because Taron is hot and I’m a hypocrite.
EZinHTown
@evanxx LMAO! “loosen up!” I would add, “literally”
joseph_buscarino
Some of you guys are really overthinking this, I mean the reason that sex scenes are in movies, is A. Because sex sells ;p but most importantly cause it is a part of life, its normal and natural, so not sure what there is to freak out about or be uncomfortable with. And the whole point is, would we even be discussing this if it was a scene between a guy and a girl? no because no one even thinks twice about that, cause its pretty much a given in most movies, and to me that is a double standard.
Daggerman
yes the film did shy away from Freddie Mercury’s sexuality because ‘straightening’ is vital for the human race so it can carry on believing that homosexuality is still a very controversial and heavy subject…typical.
decampbell
What?!
iamru2
We as gays don’t get a pass just because we’re gay! If it had been a racy hetero couple they still would have asked for the cut. It’s pretty clear why, there was nudity and they don’t want an R rating! I guess some people see homophobia everywhere even though we live in a time when we’ve never been more visible or accepted. I can’t wait to see it!
Brian
A thousand counterpoints exist. Consider the PG-13 rating of Titanic. Kate Winslet’s breasts were exposed, Leo DiCaprio painted her in that pose, and the sex scene happened later on. Nudity among straight couples is deemed acceptable at the MPAA.
DCguy
Except that’s a lie.
joseph_buscarino
Sadly I actually kind of agree with this. It probably has less to do about gay content and more to do about nudity, so it might not really be a sexuality issue. However that being said, I still want them to show it ;p cause who doesnt want to see Taron naked? I mean come on lol
iowadude
This is probably the best and most recent example of why the US needs to get rid of its antiquated ratings system that it foists on the entire world. I don’t understand why actors haven’t revolted against this artistically inhibiting anti-free expression vehicle by now.
Polaro
Damn, I want to see Taron’s gay sex scene 🙂 Tell them I will pay to see it twice if they leave it in. It is all about the money, afterall.
decampbell
Edgerton and Madden? HELL YES!
lovethyneighbor
The rating of a movie is just to let the parents know where it falls on a certain continuum and why; however, it should be the PARENTS responsibility to manage what their children watch. The movie industry can only make people aware of the rating based upon societal norms. I’m not saying this is right, and as a gay man, it’s not a fair-rating system; however, it does come down to the almighty dollar. We should understand this from the FAKE LEADER in the White House. If some parents want to fool themselves into believing they can control their children’s sexuality by eliminating or contesting these movies are just as ignorant as the movie director’s, who slash out the gay.
No one ever woke up one day and weighed the odds of being heterosexual, homosexual, trans, lesbian, bi-sexual, or queer — it just is the way it is… These people waste a lot of time being about judgments and self-righteousness rather than enjoying time living their lives. It’s no wonder that many would not follow a path of religion when it’s all about fighting and creating drama with those, who don’t conform to Christian values. I have no problem with anyone, who considers him/herself to be Christian, and I consider myself to be a Christian; however, NO ONE has the right to shove their religious beliefs onto another person.
Even some, who claim to have such a strong faith and following of the Bible, have no idea about Biblical teachings because they have read the Bible all the way through. Instead, they just pick and choose scripture passages that can work in whatever way they deem useful. Further, they ignore the things that would point the finger at their own sin. How many have been caught up in scandals, adultery, homosexuality, greed, and much more? No person has the right to judge others, which has been the message in the Bible. Also, there are many things that some Christians do not pull forth from the Bible, such as eating the scavengers of the ocean or bottom feeders, if you will. I would rather show love to all people and value in them than be an uptight judgmental and self-righteous self-proclaimed Christian, who cannot see truth and love because of the “beam” in my own eye.
xanadude
Why bother with a PG rating, no one under 17 knows who Elton John is anyway!
stanhope
LOL true!
gregg2010
The PG-13 rating is what ruined “Bohemian Rhapsody.” It turned it into a corny, predictable biopic; only Malek’s performance saved it from a total wash. It’s just too bad that compromises like this have to be made so the film gets the coveted PG-13 rating . . .
iowadude
Exactly! And you have the same director here. Forget about the biography, it’s all about the bucks
msc1208
You cannot honestly tell the story of a rock star (especially from the ’70s) and expect it to get a PG-13 rating. In most cases an R-Rating would be nearly impossible to obtain if they were being completely honest in the storytelling. Watering down the homosexuality in a story for mass audiences only results in crap like Bohemian Rhapsody. Studios really only care about money and that is the reason cited by them for wanting a PG-13 rating. That a PG-13 film will make more money. Except that is some BS. A Star Is Born is rated R. It made more money than Venom. Yes, I realize Venom beat it at the box office 3 weeks in a row, but A Star Is Born spent 3 more months in theaters than Venom did. (and is still playing in some areas.) and it eventually made more money than Venom did. The “PG-13” makes more money argument is just homophobia disguised as greed for money. They want to claim the PG-13 rating is a money maker and that R-rated films mean less money. The truth is if the film is solid enough the rating just won’t matter. I would even argue that if “A Star Is Born” had been edited down to a PG-13 it wouldn’t have been as great as it was. Its just a poor argument for the studios to cut the homosexuality out of a film about a homosexual.
stanhope
Truth
dk6090
I totally agree, msc1280. The main reason I DIDN’T see the 50 Shades of Gray movies was because I knew they would NOT do them justice. The books (yeah, I’m ashamed to say I read them) were, LITERALLY, BDSM soft core porn. When I heard they were going to be rated “R,” instead of NC17, as they should have been, I didn’t waste my money, and just waited to see them on HBO. I guarantee that all the book fans would have paid to see Christian Gray’s extremely large erect penis and well built body, like the books describe, but, instead, we got an, admittedly, cute Brit, who did NOT fit the book’s descriptions, and to further add insult, the first actor who was considered for the part was torn apart by Bret Ellis, even though Matt Bomer fit the book descriptions much more than the actor eventually chosen. I f*cking HATE Ellis, because he basically betrayed a fellow gay man (Bomer) by writing a national article insisting that no American woman would go see the movies with an openly gay actor in the lead. Personally, I WANT to see the hot sex scene with Taron and Richard…
Mack
Heck they had 3 gay sex scenes on Now Apocalypse on Showtime with no age restrictions and they were hot as hell.
PinkoOfTheGange
I have read this story else where and that one made it seem they wanted the scene trimmed not removed. If that is the case then that is normal.
But If the MPAA would allow a str8 couple to show more skin and achieve a PG-13 rating, then there is an issue with them, and the studio not willing to go up against them are the real issues.
justyouandi
I thought I was going to see the deleted scene here. ” … this explicit gay sex scene …” is in the headline. Where is it?
animatedgifman
It’s the ‘clickbait-ish’ nature of some or most of Queerty hosted articles, justyouandi. Getting the most ‘butts in the seats’ sometimes takes priority over accuracy. It’s the nature of ‘free’ sites that earn their bread and butter from the ads displayed within articles (whether or not anyone clicks on them).
evanxx
doshepherd – THANK YOU! I wanted to make the same point basically; but as a gifted author, you articulated my sentiments far better than I could. The studio needs to drop the double standard & produce an authentic biopic that targets the intended audience demographic..
ShiningSex
A lot of people have a stupid viewpoint on what bisexuality is.
Just because you had sex with women in the past and have stopped and would NEVER do so again because you’re GAY!!! That doesn’t make you bi.
Many many many gay men had sex with women prior to them coming out/self acceptance, etc.
Mercury was a big old queen NOT BI!!!!
His ex said so many times. He said he had no interest in sleeping with women after a certain point. That is gay NOT bi.
james7
I’M CONFUSED. I THOUGHT IF ANY MAN SAID HE WAS BISEXUAL IT MEANT HE WOULD HAVE SEX WITH EITHER BOYS OR MEN?
Doug
It’s obvious at this point that Paramount couldn’t care less about how authentic the film is to Elton John’s gay life. They’re focusing only on Bohemian Rhapsody’s box office grosses and are trying to duplicate that with “Rocketman.” This is how Hollywood makes “cookie-cutter” films… they just try and reinvent the same movie over and over again because they’re terrified of taking the risk of doing something different or, God forbid, actually original.
justsimple
Hollywood does not care about equality.
They want us to think they do because they need us.
Think about it: Actors in closet. Casting Couches
They said it’s about middle America isn’t ready but the reality is they are not ready for acceptance and truth. They only care about money and telling us what is wrong with the world. Yet they produce movies about murder and endless violence but sex is the enemy.
They are hypocrites
Altaclipper
In the old days, “Dynasty” was celebrated for having a gay character, Steven Colby, but avoided the intimacy issue by having his boyfriends die. We’ve actually come a long way.
Mainere
Don’t you dare cut out a Madden and Egerton scene!!
stanpaske
So, Paramount has learned nothing. #metoo was women whining about “paying” their dues. And gay sex is disgusting and should not be shown. What a crock of shit. Why do I spend my “dirty” gay money on their movies. #nogaymoney
elvmn12000
It’s time that society get used to the fact, just like heterosexual scenes there’s groping, kissing, sex shown in movies as a “R” rating it should be equally viewed in homosexual scenes.
Get used to it and just like you have to explain to your children about those heterosexual scenes you’ll need to explain the homosexual scenes.
NO DIFFERENCE
Curtispsf
I am ALL for nudity in movies whether it’s straight, gay or anything in between. Europeans have very few issues around sex, except, of course, the British where straight men love to cross dress. America is stuck in the Puritanical era where sex is “dirty” and nudity is to be avoided. The only exception to the all nudity in movies might be animated children’s movies. Unless penguins are involved.