Now that we know the ‘documentary’ I’m Still Here, where Joaquin Phoenix pretended he was giving up acting to become a rap star, is all fake, it’s time for him to get back to appearing in films. While he’s been rumoured for a few movies during his supposed retirement, he’s now apparently being pursued by Clint Eastwood for his biopic of J. Edgar Hoover.
Leonardo DiCaprio is already attached to the lead role, with Vulture reporting that Phoenix is supposedly top choice for the part of Hoover’s protege, Clyde Tolson. However, Joaquin is yet to be officially offered the role, as producers are waiting for DiCaprio’s deal to close before they sign up the rest of the cast.
Interestingly, Vulture’s report suggests the movie may be a lot more gay than previously thought. While the hiring of Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black made many initially wonder whether the film would explore the allegations Hoover was gay and a cross-dresser, these were downplayed by the movie’s backers. However, it seems that much of the film will concentrate on Hoover’s relationship with Tolson, who was his closest confidante it the fledgling FBI. More than that, the pair also dined, socialised in night clubs, and even vacationed together. When Hoover died, most of his estate went to Tolson, and he was the one who accepted the US flag draped over Hoover’s coffin at his funeral.
However, Hoover was also known to ruthlessly persecute those who questioned his sexuality and to keep lists of those in office who might be gay, so he could blackmail them into doing what he wanted. As a result there’s certainly plenty of drama if the film is going to suggest the men were more than just good buddies. To this day it isn’t definitively know if Hoover and Tolson were gay (some have suggested all the rumours about Hoover were just payback for what he did to others), or if it was just the ultimate bromance, but the rumours have lingered a long time.