J. Edgar scribe Dustin Lance
Black disagrees with director Clint Eastwood's suggestion that the
film won't cover FBI director J. Edgar Hoover's sexuality.
J. Edgar, which stars Leonardo
DiCaprio in the role of Hoover, is expected to begin filming later
this month.
In an interview with the Wall Street
Journal, Eastwood is quoted as suggesting that the film would not
address Hoover's alleged sexuality.
Michael Judge wrote: “When I ask if
the screenplay addresses reports by former FBI employees that Hoover
was a cross-dresser and perhaps a closeted homosexual, Mr. Eastwood
says not really. In fact, what attracted him to the screenplay was
the fact that it 'didn't quite go down that road.'”
But
in comments to gay entertainment website AfterElton.com, Black
disagreed, saying that Eastwood was merely remarking on the
cross-dressing issue.
“I think he's referring to the fact
that he's not going into the stereotypes of who Hoover was because
they are clownish, they are comic book and they reek of homophobia
and he's not going to do that. I agree with that,” Black said.
“It won't be going into anything that is a gay stereotype,
especially that was used in that day to bash gay men. It won't be
going into that because it's not accurate and it's not true. It will
deal with sexuality in a far more human, realistic way.”
Earlier in the week, Armie
Hammer, who plays Clyde Tolson, Hoover's alleged lover, told
reporters that he's ready for a “ton of kissing scenes.”