Steven Soderbergh says every studio rejected Behind the Candelabra because it was “too gay”

One would think that a film like Steven Soderbergh‘s BEHIND THE CANDELABRA (which looks spectacular by the way) would have no problem finding a studio to bring it to the bring screen–but apparently, it did.

But why? Probably one of the most moronic answers I’ve ever heard. This is what Soderbergh told The Wrap:

“Nobody would make it. We went to everybody in town. We needed $5 million. Nobody would do it. They said it was too gay. Everybody. This was after ‘Brokeback Mountain,’ by the way. Which is not as funny as this movie. I was stunned. It made no sense to any of us.”

Back the truck up…”too gay”? REALLY? Obviously I haven’t seen the movie yet so I have no way to back this up, but if HBO decided to take it on, it can’t be too racy. Not anymore racy than BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN as Soderbergh had already mentioned. The director was surprised that his other film, THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE got a theatrical release, but not the Liberace biopic.

But in the end, the director was just happy that HBO took on the project, They’re great and they’re really good at what they do, and ultimately I think more people will see it, and that’s all you care about. Studios were going, ‘We don’t know how to sell it. They were scared.'”

BEHIND THE CANDELABRA starring Matt Damon and Michael Douglas premieres on HBO this Spring.