Ewan McGregor, who plays gay opposite Jim Carrey in I Love You Phillip Morris, says he didn't want to play a gay stereotype.

The film, which first premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, arrives on DVD and Blu-ray on April 5.

I Love You Phillip Morris is based on the true story of Steven Russell (played by Carrey, Liar Liar) and his improbable transformation from small-town businessman, father and former cop to gay white-collar criminal and ingenious jailbreaker. While in prison, Russell falls in love with his cellmate Phillip Morris (played by McGregor, Star Wars).

In a clip released on Tuesday, McGregor says he met with the real Phillip Morris to prepare for the role.

“I went and spent a couple of days with him in Arkansas and hung out with him a little bit,” McGregor said. “We talked a lot about his time in prison. And we talked a lot about his time before that. I just wanted to know as much about his life as I could.”

“I didn't want to look like a straight man playing gay,” McGregor added. “I didn't want to play kind of stereotype – what straight people think gay people are like. I wanted it to be honest and believable.”