Looks like it’ll be following films like Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman.
The director of the upcoming Boy George biopic has hinted that the singer may not be played by an LGBTQ actor, much like films Bohemian Rahpsody and Rocketman, which chronicled the lives of Freddie Mercury and Sir Elton John respectively.
Although the films were both commercial and critical successes, the films were criticised for not having LGBTQ actors in LGBTQ roles, with Rami Malek and Taron Egerton playing the roles or Mercury and John.
Sacha Gervasi, who has previously directed biopics like Anvil! The Story of Anvil and Hitchcock, said that he was “open to everything” when it came to the casting process.
The PA news agency reported Sacha as saying: “I think it has to be someone who is fantastic for the part and as we saw with Taron Egerton in Rocketman and Rami Malek in Bohemian Rhapsody, they were able to embrace the essence of that character without necessarily having the same life experience.
“So I think we’re open to everything. We wouldn’t say yes or no, I would say we’re open to the right person for the part without any agenda either way.”
He added: “That’s the most important thing, we get an actor who can really play all the complicated notes and tones and emotions of George’s life and I think that could be anyone.”
However, it might not be an actor playing Boy George, as Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner was previously linked to the role. Turner said she was “so down” for the role, with Sacha saying: “It’s just too early days to say anything but I’m excited already to see the amount of energy and excitement there seems to be about the project.”
It was announced earlier this year that MGM was working on a biopic of the legendary Irish singer.
The film will chronicle Boy George’s early life in Ireland, before looking at his rise to stardom in the 80s with Culture Club. On Instagram, the singer called the announcement of the film “thrilling.”
Also tied with the project are Kevin King Templeton and Paul Kemsley as producers and Jessica de Rothschild and Boy George as executive producers.
Sacha spoke highly of Boy George, saying the singer was a “trailblazer and a true original.”
He added: “In the London clubs of the ’80s, George was impossible to miss and everyone knew he would be a star long before the world had ever heard a note of Culture Club’s iconic songs. As you can imagine, George’s life story is wickedly entertaining, yet also poignant and inspiring. I’m both honored and excited to be the one to guide it onto the big screen.”
And Kevin King Templeton said: “Having got to know George over the last three to four years, it’s important to me to ensure his story got told on screen.”
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