Joel Edgerton hopes his new movie will soon become irrelevant.

Joel Edgerton

Joel Edgerton

The 44-year-old actor has written and directed 'Boy Erased', which tells the story of a gay American teenager who is forced to go through so-called conversion therapy - which is used to "cure" homosexuality - but Joel is hopeful that the film will soon become "a museum piece".

He told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper: "You always hope your films will live forever.

"It would be great if it was redundant now or in a year, or in five years time that there's no point even watching this movie. That it's a museum piece."

'Boy Erased' has been adapted from a memoir by Garrard Conley, and Joel has admitted to being captivated by the story.

He explained: "It was this incredible family story based on confusion and opposing beliefs.

"A boy who was born a certain way, who was never going to change, butting up against his father's belief that you couldn't be born that way and that there was a way of changing you."

Meanwhile, Joel has also stressed that issues surrounding the LGBTQ community extend well beyond legislative measures.

He shared: "You definitely need laws to protect people.

"Beyond that, legislation doesn't shift personal opinion ... There are laws that say you can protect the rights of LGBTQ people yet people still infringe upon that so I think it's about awareness and understanding.

"All change happens slowly but walking back freedom laws under the banner of religion sends out the wrong message."


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