Clint Eastwood on Monday denied rumors
that Joaquin Phoenix is being considered to play gay in the upcoming
biopic of FBI director J. Edgar Hoover. But Eastwood, who'll direct
the film, did confirm that Leonardo DiCaprio will play the lead.
“It's a great role for him,”
Eastwood told Reuters.
Last month, New York Magazine
reported that Eastwood was pursing Phoenix to play the role of Clyde
Tolson, Hoover's alleged lover. The two men worked closely –
Tolson landed the plum post of associate director after only 3 years
at the agency – and socialized together, but vehemently denied
claims they were in a romantic relationship. Tolson inherited
Hoover's estate and his grave rests yards from Hoover's in the
Congressional Cemetery.
Other evidence that Hoover was gay
includes the fact that many of his closest friends were closeted men.
Rumors that Hoover was a crossdresser persist to this day.
Eastwood, however, suggested the film
would not linger much on Hoover's romantic life.
“He was a very complex person. The
homosexual aspect is just one of many. I would say that's the least
of his problems. But he was also very clever, whether rightfully or
wrongfully, he was very clever about keeping himself in a certain
position in life, so it is an interesting study,” he said.
“He was an iconic figure,” the
legendary actor added.
Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance
Black announced last month that he's completed the movie's script and
filming is set for early next year.