Steven Soderbergh: Studios Thought Liberace Film 'Too Gay'

We love that Steven Soderbergh isn't shy about expressing himself: in odd films, as well as when it comes to backroom dealings--of making films. He recently told TheWrap's Tim Molloy that the reason why his upcoming Behind the Calendabra will be on HBO rather than in cineplexes is because

"Nobody would make it. We went to everybody in town," the director state at the Television Critics Association winter press tour. "We needed $5 million. Nobody would do it."

That's right: No studio would budget $5 million for a movie with Damon and Douglas?

"They said it was too gay. Everybody," Soderbergh said. "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."

Matt Damon has already said he's nude a lot in the film and explained his sexual scenes with Douglas by saying, "It wasn't the most natural thing in the world to do, though. Like, for one scene, I had to come out of a pool, go over to Michael, straddle him on a chaise longue and start kissing him. And throughout the script, it's not like I kiss him just once. We drew it up like a football plan."

If you recall, Soderbergh was able to get a theatrical release for The Girlfriend Experience, a pretty terrible movie that starred porn star Sasha Grey. But he says that's because he made that film for a measly $1million.

HBO is also working on an adaptation of The Normal Heart with director Ryan Murphy. And famously adapted Angels in America for a TV movie version.