Taron Egerton to star in new Elton John biopic ‘Rocketman’
The upcoming movie will chart the musical legend's rise to fame.
By Will Stroude
Taaron Egerton is set to play Sir Elton John in an upcoming movie biopic of the musical icon’s life.
Kingsman star Egerton, 28, is set to play the legendary British singer in Rocketman, which was first announced way back in 2011 and charts Sir Elton’s rise to fame in the late ’60s and early ’70s.
Variety reports that Dexter Fletcher, the director of upcoming Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, is set to helm the film, which has been written by Lee Hall, the man behind Billy Elliot the Muscial and the 2005 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice starring Keira Knightley.
Egerton’s casting comes after fellow British actor Tom Hardy quit the role back in 2013, citing his lack of singing ability as the reason for his departure from the project.
Taaron, however, should have no problem tackling Sir Elton’s extensive back catalogue of hits: The young star previously proved his vocal prowess with a rousing rendition of the musician’s 1983 hit ‘I’m Still Standing’ while voicing a computed generated gorilla for 2016 animated comedy Sing – as you do.
Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish are set to co-producer Rocketman alongside Matthew Vaughn, who previously worked with Egerton teamed on both Kingsman and Eddie the Eagle.
The film comes as Sir Elton prepares to kick off a three-year, 300-date farewell tour in the US this September.
The 71-year-old singer, who has shifted an estimated 300 million records over the course of his five-decade career, announced in February that he had decided to say goodbye to touring in order to spend more time with his children Zachary, 7, and Elijah, 5.