‘Rocketman’ producer reveals why Tom Hardy was dropped from the movie
The actor was attached to star as Sir Elton John in the musical biopic but the role went to Taron Egerton
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
Rocketman producer reveals why Tom Hardy was dropped from the film.
From the early stages of production, the Inception and Dark Knight Rises star was onboard to portray Sir Elton John in the musical biopic but the film was too expensive for Universal’s speciality label, Focus Features.
After John and his husband David Furnish struggled to get the film off the ground, Matthew Vaughn – who is best known for helming the Kingsman franchise – offered to produce and finance the development through his Marv Films production house.
Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, Vaughn said: “I said, ‘Look, I don’t understand how this hasn’t been made, and if you want me to team up with you, I’m in’.”
However, Vaughn had some reservations about casting Hardy as the iconic gay singer, who was attached through Focus Features, and one of the reservations was about singing.
He continued: “I really think Tom Hardy is one of the best actors, but I felt he was too old for the role. And two, they said the idea was Tom was going to lip-sync.”
But Vaughn went on to suggest Taron Egerton – who he had worked with in the Kingsman movies – who sang Elton’s hit ‘I’m Still Standing’ in Sing.
Vaughn – who had Elton star in Kingsman: The Golden Circle alongside Taron – added: “John and Furnish were on the fence because they had Tom Hardy attached, but when they heard Taron sing, it was like a no brainer.
“They were like, ‘OK, he’s unbelievable’.”
Egerton was cast as the iconic singer and the movie is set to be released this month.
Listen to Egerton singing ‘Rocket Man’ below: