Tom Hanks has said that as a straight man he could not get to Philadelphia now, where he played a gay man who is dying of AIDS.
Speaking to the New York Times to promote Elvis Presley’s new biographical film, Hanks described it as “timely, timely films that you may not be able to make now.”
“Let’s say‘ Could a straight man do what I did in Philadelphia now? ’” Hanks said. “It simply came to our notice then. Philadelphia’s goal was not to be afraid. One of the reasons people weren’t afraid of that movie is because he played a gay man. We are now beyond that, and I don’t think people accept the lack of authenticity of a straight man playing a gay guy. “
Hanks continued, “It’s not a crime, it’s not boohoo, let someone say we’re going to demand more of a film in the modern realm of authenticity. Sounds like he’s preaching? I don’t want to.”
However, Hanks’ statement was received with skepticism online, and many said that Bradley Cooper is currently shooting a biographical film of Leonard Bernstein, which has already attracted the rumor of the Oscars, and Ewan McGregor recently won an Emmy for playing Halston.
Meanwhile, Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer enjoyed high acclaim for their roles in Call Me By Your Name, as did Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan for the Ammonite-era romance.
However, actor Eddie Redmayne regretted accepting the role of a trans woman in Tom Hooper’s 2015 film A Danish Girl, describing her role as “a mistake” and the role he “would not take on now.” .
In 2021, Russell T Davies stated that only gay actors should play gay roles, a credo he adhered to when delivering the hit drama It’s a Sin. This September sees the release of Bros., a romantic LGBTQ + comedy starring Billy Eichner in which all members of the cast, including those who play heterosexual roles, identify as queer.