Why did Terrence Howard turn down the Marvin Gaye biopic? What we know about his on-screen kiss comments

Terrence Howard, the Oscar-nominated star who has appeared on Empire, Hustle & Flow, and Iron Man, made headlines recently for revealing why he turned down the opportunity to play soul music icon Marvin Gaye in an intended biopic.

Howard announced on Bill Maher's Club Random podcast that he had declined the role due to a scene in the script that involved him kissing a man.

According to Entertainment, he said,

"I don't fake it."

His words ignited discussions across entertainment and social media outlets regarding actor boundaries, on-screen intimacy, and the responsibility of portraying real-life people.

Terrence Howard was booked for the Marvin Gaye biopic

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The biopic, which is in pre-production by filmmaker Lee Daniels, was going to —one of the most influential figures in American music history.

The film also attempted to showcase a more dramatic insight into Gaye's life and professional turmoil, with a greater focus on his music career, family, and inner demons. Daniels, best known for tear-jerking television dramas and films, was said to have been interested in creating a human and raw version of the singer.

The scene that led to his decision

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On the Club Random podcast show, Howard explained the key reason why he actually ended up walking away from the project. In his account, he phoned music producer Quincy Jones to inquire about gay rumors surrounding Marvin Gaye.

As per Entertainment, he said,

"I was over at Quincy Jones' house and I’m asking Quincy, 'I’m hearing rumors that Marvin was gay' and I’m like, "Was he gay?" And Quincy’s like, "Yes."

Howard said Jones informed him that the film would have gay relationship scenes. Specifically, Howard said that there was one scripted kiss between Gaye and a man.

Howard continued,

"They would’ve wanted to do that, and I wouldn’t have been able to do that"

When Maher asked him whether he could kiss a man onscreen to which Howard replied,

"No. Because I don’t fake it."

He went on to say,

"I can't play that character 100 percent, I can't surrender myself to a place that I don't understand."

Howard's position on acting and emotional realism

Terrence Howard noted that his approach as an actor is highly tied to personal emotional experience. He explained that he never "fakes" performances and needs to be capable of comprehending and becoming the emotional arc of the character.

His decision not to appear in a gay love scene, he said, was because he does not identify with that experience personally.

Howard didn't voice any opinions about the movie's plot or Gaye's alleged personal life. Instead, he only focused on his own actor limits, adding that his decision was made concerning what he perceived he could or could not adequately portray on camera.

What is known about Marvin Gaye's personal life

Marvin Gaye is among the most well-known performers of the 20th century. Gaye was a twice-married father of three children in public life. Speculation about his personal life has been ongoing for decades.

Producer Quincy Jones previously made public statements that Gaye was in a romantic relationship with a man. These claims have not been formally confirmed by Gaye's family or estate. Any use of such material in a biopic would have been presumably based on interpretations or accounts provided by the people around him.

It is not certain whether the script of the movie was finalized or whether the homosexual relationship was an absolute plot point or under negotiation. Howard decided on what he was told during pre-production discussions.

Current status of the Marvin Gaye biopic

Up to now, the Marvin Gaye biopic has not gone forward publicly, and there has been no official replacement for the lead role. Director Lee Daniels has not commented publicly on production or Howard's withdrawal in recent times.

Production on the film may still be underway discreetly. There has been no release date, trailer, or casting announcement since Howard spoke out.

Terrence Howard turned down a biopic role playing Marvin Gaye after he heard the script reportedly contained a same-s*x love scene. His purported grounds, at least publicly, were his approach to acting and emotional range, not some private or public scandal.

Howard's decision has highlighted the kind of professional boundaries actors observe when preparing for emotionally intimate scenes. No matter what lies ahead for the Marvin Gaye biopic, Howard's quote has put in the limelight how sometimes private morals and professional obligations tend to coincide in sophisticated ways.