Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher has addressed recent reports that he was made to cut a gay sex scene in the upcoming Elton John biopic, calling them “nothing but rumors.”
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There were claims earlier this week that Paramount had forced the director to remove a 40-second scene showing stars Taron Egerton and Richard Madden in a “nude cuddle.”
Egerton plays Elton John while Madden plays John Reid, his former lover and long-time manager, and it was speculated the scene was cut in order for the film to secure a PG-13 rating.
This certainly wouldn’t be unprecedented – an early version of Bohemian Rhapsody contained large amounts of nudity and gay sex, before that was shut down by surviving Queen members.
In this case, however, Dexter Fletcher has stepped up to say that the movie is still unfinished, and recent reports are “nothing but rumours.”
“It has and always will be the no-holds-barred, musical fantasy that Paramount and producers passionately support and believe in.”
This fits with what Taron Egerton has sad about the movie, which was made with the blessing of Elton John and shows the singer at his lowest points when he is “most vulnerable … broken and damaged.”
The movie is out in May, so I guess you’ll then be able to see for yourself.
https://twitter.com/Dexfletch/status/1109219445254311938
