Its, of course, hard work. After selling over 250 million albums worldwide, the singer returns to the musical inspiration for a performance at a tribute concert for Leon Russell. "It's interesting and frankly a little disheartening to know and begin to get an understanding of the mechanics of what embracing someone's sexuality in a film of this level does to its global box office and how it performs in certain territories," Egerton says. 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. (Laughs) My mom knows the boy who lies dormant within me, so I dont think she was that surprised. But to be honest, it just never happened. He was crying out for help, whether he knew it or not, and for whatever reason he didnt get that help. Hes a very unusual character and he has a lot of contradictions, says Egerton. They had a halfway decent 2018 slate (A Quiet Place, Mission: Impossible - Fallout, Book Club and Bumblebee), but they have thus far struggled in 2019. 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. Our site has more than 2 million unique monthly visitors and 1 million subscribers. 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. 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. With an R rating and a studio willing to stick to that creative decision Rocketman skipped opening in China entirely. They looked like two young boys. 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 agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. "I think you accept me as him quite quickly and you invest in the character of Elton John, which is informed and determined and inspired by and in homage to him, but is ultimately my creation," he says. In Hollywood, theres always serendipity. "If I learned an instrument and in 10 years I felt that I was proficient enough to write some music, then of course I would entertain the idea [of an album]. If youre watching it, Im writing about it, and having a great time doing so. Now 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 . Bennie and the Jets (Interlude) 17. Taron Egertons portrayal of Elton John in Rocketman was simply stunning. 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. Thats interesting because Elton is told that line by an extraordinarily talented performer. After this weeks Golden Globe and SAG nods, the Best Actor contender talks becoming Elton John, the shadow of Bohemian Rhapsody, and why the gay sex scenes were so important. Taron Egerton as Elton John in 'Rocketman'. Animated movies have always had an incredible way of blending film and music, and many of the biggest animated hits around incorporate music brilliantly. 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. Yes, of course. 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. Another mere mortal cant capture that. Scrutiny is going to be a part of that.. 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. Meanwhile, Taron is earning critical praise in director Dexter Fletchers Rocketman, which also features Jamie Bell (Bernie Taupin) and Richard Madden (John Reid). Contact Us, [1]: https://en.24smi.org/celebrity/48371-taron-egerton.html, [2]: https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/taron-egerton-36472.php, [3]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taron_Egerton. "I was most proud of the work that was characterized by being only really suitable for an older viewer," Egerton says. And I think if I don't do myself the service of spending time learning that skill, then I'm an idiot.". Sure, Taron Egerton is on screen made up and dressed up like Elton John, but in short order he storms out of a . 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. Its not a biopic. 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. I caught a touch of that.. Though Rocketman was produced by Furnish, John didnt see it in full until the premiere at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this month. ", One major differentiation is Egerton's singing; the other is in Rocketman's direct, tender approach to Elton John's sexual awakening. Taron Egerton trained to impersonate Elton John, and he sang all of Elton Johns songs during the rehearsal process for the role. As a teenager, the 29-year-old auditioned for drama school by singing Your Song, the 1970 classic that launched Captain Fantastic into orbit. David Appleby/Paramount Pictures. He relocated to Aberystwyth at 12 and attended Ysgol Penglais School before enrolling in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where he graduated in 2012 with a BA (Hons) Acting. Did he enjoy playing the music icon? 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. "I mean, there's no two ways about it," Egerton says in a new EW interview for The Awardist podcast. Were inspired by them, so we pay homage to them by subtly reimagining them. 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. For Rocketman, Egerton learned enough piano to passably play in John's style, or look like it, but was adamant about singing his way through every take of every scene, even when it was clear they'd need to blend together what was captured on set with studio sessions. The Welsh actor will be in charge of playing the legendary singer in this film. 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. Its the first milestone where you feel like youve lost something, he says. But its an inspiring [line]. It was a celebration with nostalgic significance for . The fact that Fletcher stepped in to finish directing Bohemian Rhapsody once Bryan Singer was fired from the set tied the films closer together. Egerton has the same charisma and enthusiasm as he does when he plays an actor. "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. Taron Egerton looking sharp in Kingsman: The Golden Circle. "And Taron came down one day and sat on the front lawn of our house, on a nice . 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. Everything we cant stop loving, hating, and thinking about this week in pop culture. Ive had that.. Taron Egerton plays Elton John in Rocketman from Paramount Pictures. Do you still sing or listen to Eltons songs? 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). And mainly I just watched what happened to that movie feeling intensely proud for my friend Dexter. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. 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. Ive actually never done a love scene. Memories mature like wine, dont they? he says. Get your karaoke on and sing-along with Elton John (Taron Egerton) to the iconic pop track, Your Song, . We dont replicate Eltons costumes or songs exactly. Actor Taron Egerton had some big, . On the small screen, the actor has worked on projects like Watership Down, Moominvalley, and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. Then theres the specter of Bohemian Rhapsody to talk through. Taron Egerton stars as Elton John in Rocketman. To Vaughn, the movie was a no-brainer. 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. Im going to lie down for a really long time (laughs) and enjoy my summer. The performance is taking place as a result of him taking singing lessons. Academy Awards, USA 2020 Winner Oscar . Taron Egerton keeps the identity of his girlfriend a secret. Taron Egerton shouldnt have been this good in the movie. The music is now always going to be something extra special and important. Don't miss out on the latest news and information. It has also led me to explore some of his more obscure album tracks. We are the go to news media platform of people who would like to find the latest trends in the entertainment industry. He defines himself as a working-class man. If youre a pianist, the easiest Elton John song to play is 4- Rocket Man. "Rocketman works and thrives when it feels like it's existing in a realm that isn't quite our world. I had to have piano lessons. Elton is quite interested in the world around him, and theres something quite infectious about that. Sing 2 had big expectations from fans, and it delivered at the box office. 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. How To Get A Great Direct Input (DI) Sound For Recording Guitar, Guitar Is A Relatively Easy Task That Can Be Done At Home With A Few Simple Tools, How Many Musicians And Chorus In Mozart Clarinet Concerto, How To Cure Finger Pain From Playing Guitar. Taron is Elton's greatest fan, according to producer Giles Martin. The piano-playing. The comparisons between the two films were inevitable, considering both centered on the lives of gay 70s British rock icons and were released so close together; Rocketmans Cannes premiere came less than three months after Rami Malek wrapped up his Oscars speech for playing Freddie Mercury. "Rocketman" begins with him singing underwater at the bottom of a pool, where he would. 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. ), "Bohemian Rhapsody was great, and I thought Rami Malek, who's a friend of mine, was phenomenal in the role [of Freddie Mercury]," Egerton says. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. When another movie about a . Submit a correction suggestion and help us fix it! The studio nixed that part of the sequence before even mentioning that the gay sex scene might have gone on for too long. "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. I pulled a moony to the crew at the start of the day just to kill some of the tension. Its feeling a little sugar-coatedalthough it was already pretty sugar-coated at the time., Theres a bit of a wince when he jokes about the big, scary birthday and turning 30. That portrayal of a shy piano prodigy who rose to international prominence was powerful and engaging, and we couldnt be happier for him. Tarons vocals were given a unique spin. Peter is very much interested in cultural practices around the world including music, history, languages, literature, religion and social structures. They were watching the two young boy versions of themselves onscreen, and they looked like kids again. 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. Mozartproject.org is a media and news platform that covers music genres, culture, fashion and the industry of entertainment. 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. He was named one of GQs 50 best-dressed British men in 2015 and 2016. He has been candid for decades about his addictions and his commitment to getting, and staying sober. 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 . hook due to Aladdin's surprising popularity. He received recognition for his roles in Smoke and the 2014 action comedy picture Kingsman: The Secret Service. The Secret Service. How much time is spent in the film is he singing and playing the piano? How did your mom react to seeing you in all these costumes? Simply the Worlds Most Interesting Travel Site. Clearly, there is interest in the property, and stars like McConaughey have already said that they would be on board for another film. 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. 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. We always knew, just by virtue of the fact that its a musical, that it was going to be a different animal, Egerton says. At the after-party, Elton John said, I was not watching Taron Egerton (in the film); I was watching Elton John.. Egerton (right) and Jamie Bell PARAMOUNT. It was just what Elton desired. How, then, to explain what Taron Egerton accomplishes in Rocketman? Taron Egertons personal life is a well-guarded secret for those who follow the actors career. The film's first single, Rocketman, has been released. Theyre very warm and generous and open. Watch on. Suddenly, Illumination had another major property on their hands, and soon enough, the ball got rolling on a sequel project. Egerton is a resident of West London. A year later, John made a cameo in Egertons Kingsman: The Golden Circle movie. 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. Fucking hell, if we were doing the same thing, that would have been a miserable film to come after, because it was such a behemoth.. 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. Taron Egerton is set to make a serious six-figure salary for Sing 2. 4:30. 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. Elton John saw something special in Taron Egerton from the beginning! The Kingsman movies and Robin Hood star was just 18 when John first started developing a film about his life. But now I don't think my heart would flutter. There is no one definitive answer to this question. Theres a world in which Elton maybe shouldnt have taken him too seriously (laughs). Its only when he finds the strength within him in the last act of the movie to finally accept that self, that hes able to achieve redemption. To find out more, please click this link. It did not sanitize its subjects sexuality and legacy or play down any of the sex, drugs, and rock and roll in order to appease studios and make the film more palatable for a mainstream audience. A graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, he lives in Brooklyn, where he can be found DJing '60s soul records. Theres a version of this where we could have made that our central aim, to sound as much like and emulate his mannerisms as effectively as possible. Photo: MovieStillsDB It's 10 months into 2020 and Taron Egerton still can't iron his clothes properly. In the video, he plays piano parts from the film. Rocketman is currently playing in theaters throughout the United Kingdom and around the world. It seems that we are in an age of that. Garry Eggsy Unwin, Harry Harts (Colin Firth) young protg, was played by Matthew Vaughn in Kingsman: The Secret Service and Kingsman: The Golden Circle. Egerton was reported in 2015 that he was a member of the Billionaire Boys Club. I would argue it would not have felt quite as effectively.. Illumination had success already, and the studio was hopeful that this film would be their next major hit. After the singer heard the performance in SING, he didn't need much convincing that they had the right person. 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. Taron Egerton. While the obvious comparisons would be potentially frustrating for Rocketman promotionthe mention of Bohemian Rhapsodys shadow is the only time Egerton lets out a beleaguered sigh: Yeah thatthe film was in other ways absolved for not being like Bohemian Rhapsody, really, at all.