Looks as though Rupert Everett has decided that if you can’t beat them, join them. In the past he has credited coming out as gay as being bad for his career and said it resulted in his being typecast. He has even publicly recommended that gay actors stay in the closet in case the same thing happens to them. Interesting that despite his qualms over being gay in Hollywood, Everett has written, and plans on directing and starring in, a biopic about the final years of gay icon Oscar Wilde.
The film, called The Happy Prince, will go into production next summer and will start Everett, along with Colin Firth, Tom Wilkinson and Edward Fox. The story revolves around Wilde’s imprisonment of two years hard labour for sodomy and gross indecency, which ultimately led to his death. Wilde is one of the most famous men imprisoned for his sexuality, and so perhaps Everett is the perfect person to tell this part of the legendary writer’s story. Although Everett never found himself in prison for being gay, he understands what it feels like to be condemned and ostracized over something beyond his control.
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