Clint Eastwood: Joaquin Phoenix Out As Leonardo DiCaprio's Lover In Hoover Flick

 
PUBLISHED: OCTOBER 12, 2010

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.

BY ON TOP MAGAZINE STAFF