If there were concerns about Rocketman playing down its lead character's sexuality then be concerned no more.
Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher discussed the potential for straightwashing Elton John, following recent reports of potential cuts to gay nude scenes, in an interview with Empire magazine and dismissed such claims.
Fletcher said: "It's rubbish. It's all nonsense. I haven't finished the film yet, but that is so key and fundamental to who Elton is."
He went on to say that "no-one's dictating" to him how to portray John's sexuality, adding "we couldn't change it!"
Star Taron Egerton also chimed in to say that he "couldn't look at" himself if they had downplayed John's sexuality.
Egerton added: "He's a gay icon. And who are we, as frankly heterosexual filmmakers, to not put that element of his story? How dare we. And that's not what we did."
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The film will portray John - birthname Reginald Dwight - having a central gay relationship with his manager John Reid, played by Bodyguard star Richard Madden.
"We've got Taron and Richard in kimonos," says Fletcher, "they play lovers, they kiss each other, they go to nightclubs, and there's drug use involved.
"If it's challenging or controversial, we don't see it like that. We see it as, is this right for the story?"
Rocketman also stars Jamie Bell as John's songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, and Bryce Dallas Howard as Elton's mother Sheila EIleen.
The film is due to premiere out of competition at Cannes Film Festival 2019.
Rocketman is released in UK cinemas on May 24, 2019.
