Fletcher explains that for the sequence the Egerton-Madden love scene appears in, he had also filmed a sex scene between Jamie Bells Bernie Taupin and Sharmina Harrowers Heather, to show John and Taupin on parallel rock-star journeys to sexual freedom. It's going to be compromised by all of the paraphernalia of filmmaking. There was no element of awkwardness or strangeness. Rocketman, the musical fantasy, as it was billed, about Elton Johns early career and struggles with addiction and sexuality, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in Maywhich might as well have been last century in award voters recency-biased minds. If youre a pianist, the easiest Elton John song to play is 4- Rocket Man. The film's first single, Rocketman, has been released. If it maintains that spread, it'll earn between $170 million and $184 million worldwide, or 4.45x its $41 million budget. Welcome to the Quantum Realm. ", When I saw Taron, I was not looking at him, I was looking at me, John told guild members after a screening this fall. At just 32 years old, Taron Egerton is a performer who has been stacking up the credits and the accolades during his time in Hollywood. It was not a by-the-numbers biopic with a mimic lead performance. "I've never poured so much of myself into something. "Until I saw the final cut of the movie, I never really relaxed," says Egerton, who was particularly worried that the intimate scenes between his and Madden's character would be edited out. He has a real duality to him. I pulled a moony to the crew at the start of the day just to kill some of the tension. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Egerton has done a bit of everything in film and television, though it has been his work on the big screen that has earned him the most acclaim. Check out this video where Egerton and Fletcher discuss the creation of Rocketman along with scenes from the movie. By Chloe Foussianes Published: Jan 5, 2020. To be fair, Rocketman lost some of its "But it's a fantasy jukebox musical!" And youll discover a gem that you havent heard before. How Marvel went big with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. He received recognition for his roles in 'Smoke' and the 2014 action comedy picture 'Kingsman: The Secret Service.' The Secret Service. After selling over 250 million albums worldwide, the singer returns to the musical inspiration for a performance at a tribute concert for Leon Russell. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Get your karaoke on and sing-along with Elton John (Taron Egerton) to the iconic pop track, Your Song, . Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song), Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role, Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Big Budget Feature - Comedy, Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Motion Pictures - Live Action, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media, Best Period and/or Character Makeup - Feature-Length Motion Picture, Best Special Makeup Effects - Feature-Length Motion Picture, Best Period and/or Character Hair Styling - Feature-Length Motion Picture, Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing - Musical for Feature Film, Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing - Dialogue and ADR for Feature Film, Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical. He has two half-sisters who are younger than him. I wanted to include this idea of putting on the mask. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. The movie is about acceptance of self, says the leading man. But you know, the day after the Cannes screening, Rami Malek texted me and said, Well done and well-deserved. We are so pleased to come in the slipstream of Bohemian Rhapsody because, hopefully, it suggests theres an appetite for movies of this nature. "I think there's wisdom in not being precious about those things, because then you're doing something for a press soundbite rather than for the betterment of the film," he says. It was all you can hope for. "There's a spark in him," the actor says about John, "and you feel it when you meet him. You cant shun him because shunning him means that you will burn up your fuse out there alone. With an R rating and a studio willing to stick to that creative decision Rocketman skipped opening in China entirely. He is a Welsh actor and singer. Selena Gomez vs. Hailey Bieber: Why Everyone Thinks They Need to Pick a Side, For Taron, the challenge was finding the real person underneath the legend. Im not a natural pianist, Egerton said. As a result, followers of the attractive guy may only follow him on Instagram and other social media platforms, hoping that journalists would publish images of their hero with his girlfriend. Scrutiny is going to be a part of that.. 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How much time is spent in the film is he singing and playing the piano? Elton circa 1976 plays an important role in the film, and Taron has perfect mannerisms and looks like he is doing it. Whether this guy was a bit off the wall or not, it was a line that inspired Elton. Ive actually never done a love scene. We dont replicate Eltons costumes or songs exactly. Hes a very unusual character and he has a lot of contradictions, says Egerton. Egerton is a multilingual actor who is fluent in both Welsh and English. Before Sharing Underwear Snap, Elton John Celebrates 75th Birthday with Sweet Message from Husband David Furnish: 'Glorious, Loving, Kind', 50 Years of 'Rocket Man': Inside the Song That's Sustained Elton John's Stardom for a 'Long, Long Time', Elton John and David Furnish's Cutest Family Photos, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lorraine Bracco, Taron Egerton and More React to Ray Liotta's Death: 'Shattered', Elton John Adds 11 New U.S. "Rocketman" begins with him singing underwater at the bottom of a pool, where he would. Peter is very much interested in cultural practices around the world including music, history, languages, literature, religion and social structures. Which was important, Fletcher says, because the last thing they wanted to be was The Also-Ran Rocketman.. Ive done some nudity, but never a love scene. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from, awards buzz about his performance has grown, joined the legendary rock star on stage at Los Angeles' Greek Theatre, pledged to restore at least some of the scenes, last year's Oscar party to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Here are EW's early predictions for the 2020 Oscar nominations, The most dramatic moments in Elton John's memoir that you didn't see in, Watch Taron Egerton and Elton John perform 'Tiny Dancer' together at Oscars party. Its a story about a man whos not well becoming well, and I think it was a moving experience for him. In the film, it is revealed how Reginald Dwight transformed from a street musician to a legendary musician. We are, sure, celebrating a pop stars life, but we are also celebrating a standard bearer of that communitys life. To find out more, please click this link. Getting to the core of who someone is and capturing their spirit that's what I found most scary and daunting, but also ultimately rewarding. Ditto Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman. Of course, R-rated musical doesnt necessarily have the cha-ching ring of dollar signs to it. When another movie about a . Another mere mortal cant capture that. Bennie and the Jets (Interlude) 17. But to be honest, it just never happened. Not only did he get to wear some amazing costumes and perform some of Johns most iconic hits, but he also got to inhabit the persona of one of the most popular and flamboyant musicians of all time. But now that the film is long finished, Egerton who first began talks about starring in Rocketman back in 2016 seems to be entering a new phase. He developed a close relationship with the music icon as a result of his role in the film. #Sing2 director Garth Jennings answers a question I've had for years: Did #TaronEgerton get the role of #EltonJohn in "Rocketman" because of the first "Sing". We want to hear it. Based on a true fantasy, the story of Sir Elton John is being . We love the songs. The wicked sense of humor they shared made them fast friends, but Egertons electrifying cover of Im Still Standing in the animated feature Sing set him apart from other contenders (namely Tom Hardy) to play John in the long-discussed film. But now I don't think my heart would flutter. But there are too many people I love that I wouldn't have been able to look in the eye afterward. Its amazing music. To them, Rocketman was just another decent musical biopic with less razzle dazzle and less of a "must see this in theaters" allure. Here come my twenties! But at the end of your twenties, you sort of go, Oh fuck. Journalists even speculated that Taron Egerton was homosexual, but the actor promptly debunked the accusations. But its an inspiring [line]. Even though Taron was born in England and has just one Welsh grandfather, Egerton identifies himself as Welsh. Also, over the past few months, Elton and I have had this incredible experience of performing together. The piano-playing. Our site has more than 2 million unique monthly visitors and 1 million subscribers. Its fantastic to see Egerton in Rocketman, and he adds a lot of depth to the film. So when there were reports that Paramount was considering cutting down or excising that love scene, the first in a studio movie pitched at a mass audience, the reaction was livid. He was in that scene playing organ, and he just called me up to go and have a chat with him. The chance to meet the legend in the flesh proved to be a very, very, very surreal experience.. As Richard has said, its in the movie because its not a gay sex scene. Thats interesting because Elton is told that line by an extraordinarily talented performer. Theres something and its not something you can define.. There is no one definitive answer to this question. Turns out, their gamble paid off, as Sing became a sensation once it hit theaters. Rocketman begins with him singing underwater at the bottom of a pool, where he would remain with a dive team for up to 20 minutes between takes of him trying to sing without water shooting up his nose. Egerton has sung on stage with John a number of times now, going back to last year's Oscar party to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation, where they performed "Tiny Dancer," up through last month's show at the Greek, where they belted out "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" and "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again," the new Taupin-penned duet John and Egerton sing over the Rocketman credits (coming soon to a Best Song nomination near you). Let's take a look at the success of Sing 2 and see how much Taron Egerton made to voice Johnny in the franchise once again. Theyre two celebrations of two hugely revered musical acts. So far, Egerton has starred in the Kingsman movies, Robin Hood, and Rocketman, which saw him take home some of the biggest awards in entertainment, including a Golden Globe. But still, "There isn't one moment in the film where I'm miming. He and Elton John are steadily sanding down the separation between a 72-year-old rock star and the almost 30-year-old man who has been his stand-in on screen, on an audiobook recording, and in countless interviews about John's legacy. Sing 2 was a success at the box office, and it's nice to see a talent like Egerton securing the bag. The British actor is also back as the singing and talking voice of Johnny, the teenage gorilla in the animated sequel, Sing 2, to be released in 2021. Director-producer Matthew Vaughn was editing Kingsman: The Golden Circle when Furnish mentioned that the couple was having a hard time getting a film about John off the ground, with studios giving feedback variations of too expensive or too gritty as the project sat in gestation. The Idol: How HBOs Next Euphoria Became Twisted Torture Porn After John and Furnish took him to Brandi Carlile's concert performance of Joni Mitchell's Blue as an early 30th birthday gift, they all wound up at Mitchell's house singing "Tiny Dancer" with Carlile. It was a celebration with nostalgic significance for . For more on Elton Johns astonishing rise to fame and new biopic Rocketman, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE on newsstands now. Animated movies have always had an incredible way of blending film and music, and many of the biggest animated hits around incorporate music brilliantly. Or, at the very least, amusing coincidences that can be retrofitted to make it seem as if certain things were written in the stars. Ive had that.. Rocketman is an upcoming film based on the life of Elton John that stars Taron Egerton as the singer as a young boy. Fletcher has gone on record saying that, while he made sure to do the best job he could in the stressful and rushed Bohemian Rhapsody situation, he was not emotionally attached to it.. They (Elton and Bernie) were squeezing each others knee and tapping each other on the shoulders. Taron Egerton is a Welsh actor and a singer born on 10 November 1989 in Birkenhead, United Kingdom. It's not quite the music that you exactly know. There's just something and it's not really something that you can define". He was named one of GQs 50 best-dressed British men in 2015 and 2016. Published on May 31, 2019 10:42 AM. There are things in history and his personal life that we are going to address, and that does mean he might kiss a man. He has more insight into the scrutiny and, ultimately, celebration the film received from the gay community, the impact it had on addicts and those in recovery, and how the experience of making the movie and channeling Elton has shaped him. Egerton told Collider before filming began that he planned on singing alone and did an excellent job. And the film starts with a duet of The Bitch Is Back performed by Egertons John and his younger self, Reggie Dwight from Pinner, played by Matthew Illesley. Everything we cant stop loving, hating, and thinking about this week in pop culture. He has been candid for decades about his addictions and his commitment to getting, and staying sober. Garry Eggsy Unwin, Harry Harts (Colin Firth) young protg, was played by Matthew Vaughn in Kingsman: The Secret Service and Kingsman: The Golden Circle. In a vacuum, Fletcher's Rocketman earning $180 million worldwide on a $41 million budget would be pretty great, even compared to Bohemian Rhapsody (which Fletcher famously ghost-directed at the end after Fox fired Bryan Singer). I also had a penchant for gold hot pants It was during this time that I discovered the piano. He sings Elton Johns Im Still Standing at one point. Im lucky enough to write about film and television for a living, with some fun trivia sprinkled in, too. Taron Egerton plays Elton John in Rocketman from Paramount Pictures. "My voice gets deeper over the course of the film, and my accent changes. In the video, he plays piano parts from the film. Based on the life and career of singer Elton John (played by Taron Egerton), the film focuses on his early years. Taron is a variant of the Welsh word taran, which means thunder. Egertons family-owned and operated bed and breakfast. I recorded a version of it just before Dont Go Breaking My Heart, then Honky Cat. Its been such a joy to get to grips with those more obscure songs. But the truth of the matter is 48 hours before he went on stage, he swallowed a bunch of pills and he threw himself into his swimming pool. The music is now always going to be something extra special and important. (Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher, above with Egerton on set, was also tapped to finish up Rhapsody after Bryan Singer's exit. Theyre very warm and generous and open. I had to have piano lessons. It was over 12 years ago that Elton John began developing " Rocketman ," a film about his life, and he had strict requirements: It needed to be R-rated, so as to not soften the music superstar's. Rocketman is currently playing in theaters throughout the United Kingdom and around the world. Its, of course, hard work. The film fared slightly less well at the hands of Delta Airlines, which recently pledged to restore at least some of the scenes edited out by a third-party service. There is no information on how much Taron Egerton earned in the part of Rocketman. There is no way to know for sure without further information. Egerton is performing Crocodile Rock when he, the piano, and the entire concert crowd begin to levitate. He spent a portion of his teenage in the Wirral Peninsula. Taron Egertons portrayal of Elton John in Rocketman was simply stunning. Taron Egerton looking sharp in Kingsman: The Golden Circle. Julian Day, who Ive worked with before, is an extraordinarily gifted designer. Taron Egerton faces down the KGB in trailer for Cold War thriller about the true story of. Taron Egerton plays the role of Reggie in the clip above, which depicts him sitting at a Yamaha grand piano and arguing with his music teacher, Helen Piena (Harriet Walter), while preparing for a major performance. And we hope that the audience will feel excited by that as we are. New York Times Reporter Paid $51 Million for Ryan Seacrest's LA Estate In the films centerpiece scene, Egerton as John sings the title song before 50,000 people at L.A.s Dodger Stadium, the biggest solo show anyone had ever done up to that point. I was surprised by how much I enjoy wearing hot pants (laughs). Like many of John's close friends he writes about in his memoir Freddie Mercury, John Reid, Rod Stewart John gave Egerton his own honorific drag name: Blodwyn Campervan. Call 896 6000. On the small screen, the actor has worked on projects like Watership Down, Moominvalley, and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. He received recognition for his roles in Smoke and the 2014 action comedy picture Kingsman: The Secret Service. The Secret Service. As Taron did not have a dialect coach, he listened to Plan B polish his character Eggsys London accent in Kingsman: The Secret Service. Dora and the City of Lost Gold is a coin toss, Crawl is a pure genre play and both Will Smith's Gemini Man and Blake Lively's Rhythm Section look like prime candidates for audiences who claim to want original or high concept movies for adults to ignore while complaining that Hollywood doesn't make anything for them anymore. He's written about art and entertainment for more than a decade, regularly contributing to outlets like Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly, and appearing as a guest on radio and television. Yes, yes he did. Rocket Man. No word yet on when Taron will return, if at all, as Eggsy in a third Kingsman movie. But whats sure is that he will be seen as Rian in the much-awaited The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance series, which premieres on Netflix on Aug. 30. Its an artificial thing to go through, but not if youre working with an actor who you get on with as well as Richard and I do, and youre able to discuss it candidly and navigate the difficulties effectively. When fans ask why he sings so well on piano, they are interested in knowing if he really knows how to play it. He Instagrammed a photo of him with the caption Look at this hottie, and a million sources stated he was coming; out as homosexual I am not homosexual, but two of my friends came out when I was 15, and it was a delight to support them since we are all confident in our identities as a group. He clarified. Academy Awards, USA 2020 Winner Oscar . Egerton is a resident of West London. One of the memorable lines in the movie is, You have to kill the person you were born to be to become the person you want to be. Is this something you take to heart? The MCUs tiniest heroes are kicking off its biggest phase yet, setting up the next several years of storytelling. He'd sung in the past for film roles in 2016's Sing, as an animated gorilla, he even performs Elton John's "I'm Still Standing" and along with Eddie the Eagle costar Hugh Jackman he contributed an '80s-inspired synth-pop track to the movie's closing credits. And theres the costumes. Taron Egerton as Elton John in 'Rocketman' Paramount With a Wednesday gross of $1.17 million (-26% from last Wednesday), Dexter Fletcher's Rocketman has crossed the $70 million mark at the. "I mean, there's no two ways about it," Egerton says in a new EW interview for The Awardist podcast. But for me, those are the easy things. The films first single, Rocketman, has been released. Were extremely excited for the premiere of Rocketman at the 2020 Academy Awards because itll be directed by Taron Egerton. Patiently waiting for the X-Men to enter the MCU and help take down Galactus! Then theres the specter of Bohemian Rhapsody to talk through. Download Best WordPress Themes Free Download. ", There were physical transformations a painted gap between his front teeth, his hairline shaved down to mimic John's early baldness. Photo: MovieStillsDB It's 10 months into 2020 and Taron Egerton still can't iron his clothes properly. I want to be a good actor first.". Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Taron Egerton. It is possible that John played all of the piano parts himself, or he may have had help from other musicians. Egerton started acting when he was 15, then scored a scholarship to London's prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, from which he graduated in 2012 and within a year was cast as the young. For us, of course, we hope that international audiences connect with the movie and love it in the way that they love Eltons music. Rocketman (I) (2019) Awards. It didnt require a cynical bent to expect it to happen again with Rocketman. At this time, there is no word on a third Sing film, but considering that Sing 2 was the highest-grossing animated movie of 2021, we can see it happening. Were inspired by them, so we pay homage to them by subtly reimagining them. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. (Laughs) My mom knows the boy who lies dormant within me, so I dont think she was that surprised. David Appleby/Paramount Pictures. Egerton attended elementary school at Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Anglesey, Wales. So, the costumes I have in the movie, like the orange neoprene I wear in rehab, is such an amazing achievement because its so Elton, but its a new thing. Dwayne Johnson's Film Debut Salary Broke A Guinness World Record, Harrison Ford Made A Shockingly Low Salary Of $1,000 Per Week For This Film. The fact that Fletcher stepped in to finish directing Bohemian Rhapsody once Bryan Singer was fired from the set tied the films closer together. Excerpts from our interview with Taron in London: What is it about playing Elton John that surprised you? At the after-party, Elton John said, I was not watching Taron Egerton (in the film); I was watching Elton John.. They were watching the two young boy versions of themselves onscreen, and they looked like kids again. When studios have conversations about whether to go for an R or a PG-13, it's often not just about letting kids in the door. 2023 Oscars predictions: See who will win at the 95th Academy Awards. There was the usual globe-trotting promotional tour, starting at its May premiere in Cannes he openly wept as the credits rolled to a fan frenzy upon his arrival in Tokyo and impromptu performance on Paramount Japan's TikTok alongside director Dexter Fletcher. Mozartproject.org is a media and news platform that covers music genres, culture, fashion and the industry of entertainment. . Egerton could act, sing and dance all in Johns trademark platform shoes. And while no one should have expected the Taron Egerton-as-Elton John biopic to mimic the insane $216 million domestic/$905 million worldwide success of Bryan Singer's Bohemian Rhapsody, the issue at hand is less about Rocketman not quite "over-performing" and more about the studio releasing it.