I would argue it would not have felt quite as effectively.. Egerton starred in 2016's Sing, offering his voice for Johnny, a singing gorilla who enters an American Idol -style singing competition. Or, frankly, been in it at all. "Rocketman" begins with him singing underwater at the bottom of a pool, where he would. And yes, there are differences. ", There were physical transformations a painted gap between his front teeth, his hairline shaved down to mimic John's early baldness. I caught a touch of that.. Don't miss out on the latest news and information. I think he wanted us to do something impressionistic rather than photographic, Egerton says. 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. The only significant difference is that Taron Egerton, who won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy as an astlottiated version of Queens Freddie Mercury, lip-synced most of Queens songs in this film, whereas Rami Malek lip-sync. "And it seems to heighten peoples' response to and affection for him.". The film's first single, Rocketman, has been released. "We see him in some fairly compromising scenarios. Egerton even joined the legendary rock star on stage at Los Angeles' Greek Theatre to belt out a couple of duets before a sold-out crowd who'd come to see a live orchestra accompany a Rocketman screening full of ardent fans, to be sure, but also no small number of the guild and academy members who vote for award nominations. He defines himself as a working-class man. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. Egerton, who in person is affable and sincere, has spent a significant amount of the last three years on Rocketman: rehearsing and filming, recording its soundtrack at Abbey Road, promoting its release, and now extending the movie's reach into awards season. 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. It's not quite the music that you exactly know. Animated movies have always had an incredible way of blending film and music, and many of the biggest animated hits around incorporate music brilliantly. 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.. The performance is taking place as a result of him taking singing lessons. Egerton attended elementary school at Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Anglesey, Wales. He has been candid for decades about his addictions and his commitment to getting, and staying sober. The gay community has been burned so many times before by LGBTQ+ movie representation that theyre practically calloused. Photo: MovieStillsDB It's 10 months into 2020 and Taron Egerton still can't iron his clothes properly. Elton and Egerton were also close friends, as the two shared a passion for cars, with Egerton learning to drive before the actor took the singer for a spin in a modified Rolls-Royce. 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. 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Taron Egerton as Elton John in Rocketman PARAMOUNT, LOS ANGELESNow that Rocketman has rocketed off to worldwide box-office earnings of more than $134 million, Taron Egerton, who plays Elton John in the musical biopic and worked tirelessly to promote the film, plans to lie down for a really long time.. Elton was racked with sobs for the last 10 minutes of the movie. Hes both at once incredibly vulnerable and incredibly intimidating Theres a spark in him and you feel it when you meet him. When Egerton learned that Elton would be returning to the stage in 2020, he was overjoyed, proving that they are very much alike. You cant shun him because shunning him means that you will burn up your fuse out there alone. It was not a by-the-numbers biopic with a mimic lead performance. Its been six months but Im already a little nostalgic. 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 agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Another mere mortal cant capture that. (Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher, above with Egerton on set, was also tapped to finish up Rhapsody after Bryan Singer's exit. Taron Egerton looking sharp in Kingsman: The Golden Circle. . "Elton's recognizable the world over, and there was a version of this film that we could have released that would have frankly made more money that didn't deal with that part of who he was. Elton is quite interested in the world around him, and theres something quite infectious about that. The Welsh actor will be in charge of playing the legendary singer in this film. But for me, those are the easy things. So, in that sense, Bryan Singer snagging a PG-13 for his blustery Freddie Mercury biopic was as much about getting certain adult moviegoers as it was about getting kids, to the extent that youngsters would care about a group that was already "old" when Wayne's World came out 27 years ago. 16. He received recognition for his roles in 'Smoke' and the 2014 action comedy picture 'Kingsman: The Secret Service.' The Secret Service. Hes a once-in-a-lifetimehell, probably once everbeamed-from-another-planet personality, talent, raconteur, and renegade. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. This all puts more pressure on the Tim Miller-directed and James Cameron-produced Terminator: Dark Fate, which may revive the franchise but may also be the third failed attempt to reboot it. Rocket Man. Taron Egerton keeps the identity of his girlfriend a secret. While it is known that Elton John is a highly accomplished pianist, it is not clear who played the piano on any given track. 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. I had to have piano lessons. Patiently waiting for the X-Men to enter the MCU and help take down Galactus! The actor enters awards season as not only Elton John's stand-in but now also a close friend and an accomplished singer. When another movie about a . Taron has a very innate, likable, vulnerable quality that not a lot of leading men easily find., Trending Our site has more than 2 million unique monthly visitors and 1 million subscribers. think piece sandbox. He began acting as a child, and he also took piano lessons and worked with Michael L. Roberts, who taught Egerton a lot about singing. With an R rating and a studio willing to stick to that creative decision Rocketman skipped opening in China entirely. Other performers who come in just below him and just above Egerton include Reese Witherspoon and Scarlett Johansson, who will be making $700,000 and $550,000, respectively. How Elton John Survived Fame, Addiction and Suicide Attempts and Learned to Love Himself, Britney Spears Calls Taron Egerton the 'Coolest Guy Ever' as Sam Asghari Jokes 'Hands Off My Wife', Elton John's Larger-Than-Life Career in Photos, Disney's Live-Action 'Hercules' Will 'Pay Homage' to Original with 'More Modern Spin,' Producer Says, Elton John Previews Songs from His 'Devil Wears Prada' Musical Based on 'One of My Favorite Films', Taron Egerton Exits West End Play 'Cock' Due to 'Personal Reasons' After Multiple Health Setbacks, Taron Egerton Tests Positive for COVID-19, Pulls Out of His West End Play for the Second Time, Taron Egerton Dances to the Bee Gees in Only a Towel! If it maintains that spread, it'll earn between $170 million and $184 million worldwide, or 4.45x its $41 million budget. A graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, he lives in Brooklyn, where he can be found DJing '60s soul records. He spent a portion of his teenage in the Wirral Peninsula. The 72-year-old singer-songwriter apparently loved what he saw, at least according to producer Matthew Vaughn. Egerton is performing "Crocodile Rock" when he, the piano, and the entire concert crowd begin to levitate. Powered by InsiderPeeps. But there are too many people I love that I wouldn't have been able to look in the eye afterward. "Rocketman works and thrives when it feels like it's existing in a realm that isn't quite our world. There is no one definitive answer to this question. He jumped in to produce, drafted Dexter Fletcherthe man who would eventually take over Bohemian Rhapsody helming duties from Bryan Singerto direct, and suggested his Kingsman star to take over as John. It was just what Elton desired. Theres this phrase that Im going to paraphrase: Bored people are boring and interesting people are really fucking interested, he says. Dexter included it in the soundtrack for the moment when Elton starts to become successful. The film grossed $195 million worldwide on a budget of $40 million, and has so far scored major nominations at the Golden Globes, SAG Awards, and Critics Choice Awards. "Taron Egerton plays Elton John in Rocketman from Paramount Pictures. Taron Egerton is a Welsh actor and a singer born on 10 November 1989 in Birkenhead, United Kingdom. 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. Submit a correction suggestion and help us fix it! Meanwhile, Taron is earning critical praise in director Dexter Fletchers Rocketman, which also features Jamie Bell (Bernie Taupin) and Richard Madden (John Reid). It has been suggested that Egertons voice is similar to that of Elton John. As a teenager, the 29-year-old auditioned for drama school by singing Your Song, the 1970 classic that launched Captain Fantastic into orbit. But still, "There isn't one moment in the film where I'm miming. If youre a pianist, the easiest Elton John song to play is 4- Rocket Man. In the action-adventure-drama, a prequel to Jim Hensons 1982 The Dark Crystal, Taron stars with Caitriona Balfe, Helena Bonham Carter, Mark Hamill and Alicia Vikander. In recent months as awards buzz about his performance has grown, Egerton has accompanied John, John's husband and Rocketman producer David Furnish, and John's songwriting partner Bernie Taupin to a steady schedule of panel discussions, screenings, and receptions around Los Angeles. That's a pretty solid sum for an R-rated musical biopic, especially one that is comparatively unapologetic about its lead being gay (and actually partaking in onscreen same-sex relations). I think its such an incredible thing for someone to go from such a low ebb to such titanic, gargantuan success., The message of Rocketman is clear in a new song John composed with longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin, (Im Gonna) Love Me Again, which he performs as a duet with Egerton over the films closing credits. It's a combination of the Welsh word for flower and a reference to his love of RV camping. That means going back to focus on the piano, though he's considering a stab at guitar, too. 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. It seems like it was just yesterday that the actor was making waves as the new kid on the block, but these days, he is a household name who is capable of turning heads with his acting abilities. The music is now always going to be something extra special and important. The film takes place over the course of four decades, with Egerton painting a gap onto his teeth and shaving back his hairline with a razor to mimic Johns pattern baldness as he aged. The film begins with Elton John bursting through the door of a recovery meeting in a flaming-red bodysuit with flared bell bottoms, a headpiece with devil horns, heart-shaped sunglasses, and a pair of massive wings looming behind him, a preview of the runway of campy, glam-rock couture to come in the filmall perfect homages to the many looks sported by John over the years. That iconic Dodger Stadium performance is a part of rock history, says Egerton. It was absolutely fine. Do You Know Buddy Boeheim Net Worth, Biography, Latest Career? Thats what a musical gives us beyond all other forms.. Listen to the full interview with Egerton on The Awardist podcast. "My voice gets deeper over the course of the film, and my accent changes. The answer to this and other questions can be found below. Taron Egerton did not play the piano exclusively in Rocketman, but the practice was necessary even then. Especially when detonating the entire formula that turned Bohemian Rhapsody into a $900 million-grossing, Oscar-winning cultural phenomenon, backlash from critics be damned. 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. We believe that in the world of chaos and global challenges, music and arts is a creative way to escape reality, find peace and relax. Everything we cant stop loving, hating, and thinking about this week in pop culture. Taron Egerton has ruled himself out of the running to play the next James Bond, suggesting 007 filmmakers have "already got someone, and it's not me" The Golden Globe-winning actor, 33, has been among the names thought to be under consideration to play Bond since he starred in the Kingsmen . It is possible that John played all of the piano parts himself, or he may have had help from other musicians. Thats the whole point of Elton John being Elton John. Rocketman is an upcoming film based on the life of Elton John that stars Taron Egerton as the singer as a young boy. Rocketman will be in British cinemas on May 24, 2019. Im lucky enough to write about film and television for a living, with some fun trivia sprinkled in, too. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. 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. So I'm very proud of what it is and what it's become, the journey it's been on, because I believe that Rocketman has its integrity intact.". The Idol: How HBOs Next Euphoria Became Twisted Torture Porn The British actor, 33, looked suave in a classic . ", One major differentiation is Egerton's singing; the other is in Rocketman's direct, tender approach to Elton John's sexual awakening. Call 896 6000. For example, when Egerton was 17, around the time that John was first exploring the idea of a movie, he auditioned for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London with Your Song. He sang a John tune again later in his career, this time as a gorilla in the 2016 animated film Sing, in which his character performs Im Still Standing at the concert finale. Theres no doubt that Taron Egerton enjoyed playing Elton John. Per the site, Matthew McConaughey, who is voicing Buster Moon, will be the top-earning performer with an $800,000 salary. Previously, he served as a Music Editor at PEOPLE and VH1.com. Do you still sing or listen to Eltons songs? Published on May 31, 2019 10:42 AM. Its lead starinsert shady eyes emojiis heard doing his own singing in the final film version. As Taron Egerton suggested in his quote to THR, half of Bohemian Rhapsody's record-breaking money is still about half a billion dollars worldwide, a success by any metric for a film of this size . How much time is spent in the film is he singing and playing the piano? Some might have expected this number to be a bit higher, but Egerton is part of an ensemble cast, and if the website's numbers are accurate, then no one is even cracking $1 million. There was no element of awkwardness or strangeness. 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. When factoring in rehearsals, filming, recording the soundtrack at Abbey Road, and spending time living with and getting to know the icon and his husband, David Furnish, the last three years of Egertons life have been spent in the headspace of Elton John. 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. At the end of its theatrical run, Sing had grossed north of $600 million, making it a genuine hit. I pulled a moony to the crew at the start of the day just to kill some of the tension. That could be it. In areas where the actor was not performing, he had to learn to make it seem like he was, which needed additional instruction. 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. 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 lead in a highly stylized spy action film alongside Colin Firth. Taron is a variant of the Welsh word taran, which means thunder. Egertons family-owned and operated bed and breakfast. But then he had to park his troubles and go be Elton John. Looking back on his life, Taron Egerton seemed destined to portray Sir Elton Hercules John in Rocketman the new "based on a true fantasy" musical biopic . That were still talking about his performance is both a testament to his work and a feat of longevity. "When I was 20, I said I was going to learn an instrument properly, and I'm about to turn 30 and I haven't," he says. In the film, it is revealed how Reginald Dwight transformed from a street musician to a legendary musician. Cast against type as Elton John in " Rocketman ," Egerton had to channel a pop god while also making the . He is determined to prove to the world that he is capable of greatness as a singer and performer, and he has dedicated himself to the necessary training and hard work required to be a great singer and performer. "Sitting next to Elton, watching Taron, and Elton squeezing me rather hard with his . E-mail [emailprotected] Follow him at http://twitter.com/nepalesruben. He received recognition for his roles in Smoke and the 2014 action comedy picture Kingsman: The Secret Service. The Secret Service. Taron Egerton plays Sir Elton John in the film Rocketman, based on the fantasy musical biography. Egerton clarified his sexuality by stating, One of the boys was at his London house.. Asked if the constant comparisons might help given the industry's preference for projects with clear similarities to past wins at the box office or awards, he says, "I think there's room for both. And mainly I just watched what happened to that movie feeling intensely proud for my friend Dexter. Egerton himself has admitted that he feared the intimate scenes between himself and Richard Madden, who plays Johns former lover and manager John Reid, would be edited out, as is common with studio films. Peter Williams is a graduate of B.A Arts and Culture from the University of Technology Sydney. 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. hook due to Aladdin's surprising popularity. For Julian to take that established aesthetic and create something new, I find that inspiring and exciting personally. Suddenly, Illumination had another major property on their hands, and soon enough, the ball got rolling on a sequel project. Everything about it was extraordinary.. Your subscription could not be saved. Tetris. It has just become a very normal thing now, being a part of Elton's life, and David and the boys, their sons.". When you get to the end of your teens, youre not like, Thats the end of my teens! Youre like, Yeah! After selling over 250 million albums worldwide, the singer returns to the musical inspiration for a performance at a tribute concert for Leon Russell. Ultimately it's more a sweeping series of musical-fantasy sequences than a faithfully realistic biopic, and by most accounts, John was less involved in the daily work than Furnish. Taron is Eltons greatest fan, according to producer Giles Martin. The most important thing is that its a musical, says director Dexter Fletcher, who arrives to our interview singing a song from Little Shop of Horrors. Its sort of like being transported back in time, Egerton says of reading the historic documents, which form the basis of Johns upcoming memoir due out in the fall. How, then, to explain what Taron Egerton accomplishes in Rocketman? . ", Egerton, who is modest at his most self-congratulatory, cautiously approves of the result which Elton John has specifically praised in a typically reflective fashion. The actor apologizes for the rasp in his voicea result of a really great weekend in which he celebrated his 30th birthdaywhen we meet in New York ahead of award-season campaigning for his work in the film, which just this week garnered him Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations, and solid footing in a turbulent Best Actor Oscars race. It's a little bit funny, as Elton John's classic "Your Song" goes, to hear about the first time actor Taron Egerton met the superstar singer. It was last February when Egerton first went to Abbey Road with John and recorded early test versions of Your Song and Dont Let the Sun Go Down on Me. The film was still very much in development, even at the script level, and at that point it was important to Egerton to try and make his voice sound as much like Johns as possible. He was crying out for help, whether he knew it or not, and for whatever reason he didnt get that help. Then, as an up-and-coming star, the Welsh-raised actor crossed paths with John when the rock legend had a cameo in 2017s Kingsman 2: The Golden Circle. That film is also a flashy musical fantasy, albeit one to which you can take the kids and (stereotypically speaking) your older parents. "There's a spark in him," the actor says about John, "and you feel it when you meet him. 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. There were still liabilities to following Bohemian Rhapsody so closelyspecifically, the aftermath of outrage at the ways the film not only blushed at the idea of showing Mercury in the throes of passion with other men but treated his sexuality as a predatory gateway drug to a destructive lifestyle. Its like Little Shop of Horrors, a fucking plant comes down from outer space and ends up eating people and singing, but theres something very real and relatable about it still. In the film Rocketman, Egerton gives a moving and intimate performance as a iconic artist, and his talent is breathtaking. Saturday Nights Alright for Fighting is an old-school production number performed by a massive ensemble at a 1950s carnival. It was a celebration with nostalgic significance for . It seems that we are in an age of that. From Austin Butler and Cate Blanchett to a potential Best Supporting Actress toss-up, see who EW thinks will win at the 2023 Oscars. Welcome to the Quantum Realm. Jordan Runtagh is an Executive Podcast Producer at iHeartRadio, where he hosts a slate of pop culture shows including Too Much Information, Inside the Studio, Off the Record and Rivals: Music's Greatest Feuds. The latest movie news, trailers, reviews, and more. We want to hear it. Rocketman, directed by Richard Lester, is a biographical musical film about a young musician named Rocketman. Stylistically, were a musical thats a biopic. After casting, Egerton was invited to visit the house John, 72, shares with his husband David Furnish, 56, and their two sons, sons Zachary, 8, and Elijah, 6. But we stuck our flag in the sand, the director says. 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. Showing all 25 wins and 86 nominations. He demonstrated a natural talent for playing a wide range of songs by ear when he began playing guitar at the age of seven. Taron Egerton was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Elton John in the film Rocketman. It goes from being quite London to quite transatlantic by the end of it. Despite not playing the piano or singing like Elton John himself, Taron Egerton did an amazing job portraying the iconic musician in Rocketman. And they have just been very, very kind and generous in terms of granting me access to their lives behind closed doors.. I hope that when people watch the movie, they see that Elton really absorbs that. He is a Welsh actor and singer. The piano-playing. They (Elton and Bernie) were squeezing each others knee and tapping each other on the shoulders. David Appleby/Paramount Pictures. 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. Yeah, I still listen to the songs for pleasure, which is a testament to how wonderful they are. Thats interesting because Elton is told that line by an extraordinarily talented performer. It's not quite our Elton. Taron Egerton's current net worth to be $10 million. But he's quick to reject the idea that he might put out an album of his own. When Egertons parents split when he was two, he went to Anglesey, a Welsh island, with his mother. Of course, R-rated musical doesnt necessarily have the cha-ching ring of dollar signs to it. LOS ANGELES No one delivered a gutsier film performance in 2019 than Taron Egerton. The Welsh actor will be in charge of playing the legendary singer in this film. What do you plan to do next? Audiences didn't dislike Age of Ultron as much as the media/pundit class did, so Civil War wasn't considered as huge of an upswing in perceived quality. Taron Egerton as Elton John in 'Rocketman'. Looking haggard during the first half of the song backstage, his face lights up as he goes onstage. The deluge of pre-release controversies helped keep Bohemian Rhapsody in the press. Taron Egerton. But that guys drunk onstage drinking whiskey, sweating, looking like hes going to fall off the stage any minute, giving this electric performance. Turns out, their gamble paid off, as Sing became a sensation once it hit theaters. Audiences (and awards groups) liked or loved Bohemian Rhapsody because it was a glossy, energetic and genuinely cinematic rock opera that doubled as a biopic with a stellar lead performance (Rami Malek) and a toe-tapping jukebox musical/concert flick filled with Queen music.