Adam Lambert slammed The Gentlemen's Theo James wanting to play George Michael in biopic

Theo James' acting career has gone from strength to strength recently, but Adam Lambert has a big problem with a potential upcoming role.

Fans have lauded the British actor for his role in new Netflix drama The Gentlemen, which arrived on the streaming platform earlier this month.

In it, he plays Eddie Horniman, who inherits the family estate when his dad dies but is shocked to learn that the property is home to a massive weed empire.

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He also previously starred in season two of The White Lotus, the Divergent film series and, perhaps most memorably, The Inbetweeners Movie.

Now, it has been reported that the 39-year-old is being eyed up to play George Michael in an £85 million biopic about the iconic singer-songwriter, who sadly died on Christmas Day in 2016.

According to the Daily Mail's insiders, the film is in the final stages of development, with it following Michael's rise to fame with Wham!, his drug addiction, solo career and later days.

Speaking of the biopic, a source told the paper: "The script is in the final stages and producers are looking for their leading man.

"Theo's name is the one on everyone's lips. He would be perfect for the part. This is George's story, warts and all."

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And, James himself confirmed his interest in the project during an interview on Bravo talk show Watch What Happens Live, saying: "Oh yeah, I would love that. He is an icon. He is a bit Greek and I am a bit Greek."

Both James (birth name Theodore Taptiklis) and George Michael (born Georgios Panayiotou) have Greek heritage, so there's a nice connection there.

But American singer and current Queen frontman Adam Lambert is not impressed, slamming James for his interest in the role.

“Yay another straight man playing a gay icon,” he commented on Instagram, alongside an eye-roll emoji.

Instagram/@adamlambert

But Lambert's fellow social media users were divided.

One agreed, writing: "There are more than enough deserving queer actors that could get this role!"

However, others claimed that it's just acting: "That’s kind of the point. It’s not a documentary!"

Lambert has since clarified his comments - speaking to Variety, he said: "My actual comment, my little sarcastic comment, was a straight actor playing a gay icon, which I do think is a bit different.

"I by no means think that gay characters can only be played by gay actors. That would be ridiculous."