After rumors began swirling that Joaquin Phoenix was going to resurrect his acting career by appearing in the new J. Edgar Hoover biography, director Clint Eastwood is denying the claims. Cinemablend.com is reporting that while Leonardo DiCaprio has been signed to star as the founder of the FBI, the movie’s screenwriter, Dustin Lance Black, previously suggested that Phoenix was in the running to play Hoover’s protege and suspected lover, Clyde Tolson.

When asked about the casting rumors, Eastwood said, “No, I don’t know where that came from.” But he subtly confirmed that the movie will discuss Hoover’s rumored homosexuality, saying “He was a very complex person. The homosexual aspect is just one of many.”

The film is also receiving hype for the fact that Hoover was famously secretive about his life. Cinemablend also reported that Eastwood’s response hints that he will touch on subjects Hoover wouldn’t want people to know about him.

Written by: Karen Benardello