May 17, 2019

'Rocketman' premiere - first major studio film to depict gay male sex

Paramount's Elton John biopic 'Rocketman' made its long-awaited debut at the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday night, as first major studio to depict gay male sex onscreen, Hollywood Reporter reminds us. The Dexter Fletcher-helmed film features scenes with men kissing, simulated oral sex and a steamy bedroom scene with both Taron Egerton, who plays John, and Richard Madden (portraying his first gay lover, music manager John Reid) unclothed. Egerton and John performed 'Rocket Man' together at the Cannes gala party for the film, Rolling Stone reports (watch it here). John said there "that's what saved my life - being a performer". Movie-critics mostly like 'Rocketman', for similar reasons as 'Bohemian Rhapsody' - music and depicting music star's image.