Rocketman

Published Date: 28/02/2019

Rocketman is an epic musical fantasy about the uncensored human story of Sir Elton John's breakthrough years.  

Playing Sir Elton is Taron Egerton and from the images and footage we have seen he has truly captured John in all of his pomp!

And he most certainly has the blessing of the man himself, with Sir Elton recently posting an image of Egerton in full Elton John character mode on his Instagram account with the caption: ‘Hold on to your glasses, this is going to be a wild ride!! Here's Taron Egerton (portraying me!) on the set of the #Rocketman movie.’

What had not been answered was the question: could Taron Egerton sing the songs of Sir Elton John and sing them live? Well after seeing the footage of him singing with John at the Oscar party released this week the answer is an unequivocal YES! Wow, Egerton was a revelation, really holding his own with the rock superstar. So much so that Sir Elton said “It can’t get any better for me.”

The Kingsman star is excited that he sung live on set “I'm going to do it all. I'm going to do it on set as well. We're going to use a variety of techniques but I will always be singing on set. No miming. I'm just not interested in doing it that way."    

Egerton’s confidence is well-founded with music producer Giles Martion reporting that Sir Elton has declared “I don't think I have heard anyone sing my songs better than Taron. And the great thing about Elton, he wants Taron's interpretation for the songs."

David Furnish, producing the film, also backed up Sir Elton’s commitment for authenticity, explaining:  

"Elton has told Taron, 'Don't copy me. Don't think you have to sing it exactly the way that I sang it. Don't think you have to perform it the way I performed it.' I think it's the challenge for the actor to embody the spirit and not get into thinking they have to do an impersonation."

With Dexter Fletcher at the helm, Egerton not only has a director with whom he has worked successfully before on Eddie the Eagle (2015), but also somebody who can guide him through the maze of a successful musical with Fletcher’s work on Sunshine on Leith (2013) and the Oscar winning Bohemian Rhapsody (2018).

Certainly Egerton impressed his director "Taron is actually singing in the film and he's so convincing. His voice is incredible. Taron is an actor of incredible range."

The film is being pitched as a ‘fantasy’ rather than a biopic, so all bets are off, but from what we have seen, it’s clear Rocketman is going to be a pretty wild ride and a no-holds barred look into the musical odyssey of one of the most successful musical artists ever.

Rocketman also stars Jamie Bell, Richard Madden and Bryce Dallas Howard.

Rocketman is at Showcase on May 24