Theyre very warm and generous and open. "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. (Laughs) My mom knows the boy who lies dormant within me, so I dont think she was that surprised. Bennie and the Jets (Interlude) 17. "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. 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. How much time is spent in the film is he singing and playing the piano? You could hear the sighs of relief back in Hollywood when the audience at the Cannes premiere saw that the gay sex and fleeting bare bums made it into the film intact. It would be a pale imitation, bad drag, or a valiant effort at best. He wasnt well. 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. 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. Egerton revealed in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that he did not play the piano in the film, but he did receive piano lessons in preparation for the role. Another mere mortal cant capture that. The Idol: How HBOs Next Euphoria Became Twisted Torture Porn I wanted to perform it myself because I enjoy the song and wanted to do justice to it. Taron Egerton trained to impersonate Elton John, and he sang all of Elton Johns songs during the rehearsal process for the role. It's a combination of the Welsh word for flower and a reference to his love of RV camping. Tom Hardy was going to play the part, until too much time passed, Hardy got too old, and the pesky detail that Hardy could not, in fact, sing became too glaring to ignore. Taron Egertons portrayal of Elton John in Rocketman was simply stunning. But there are too many people I love that I wouldn't have been able to look in the eye afterward. 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. How Much Will Taron Egerton Make For 'Sing 2'? Tom Sizemore, Heat and Saving Private Ryan Actor, Dead at 61 After the premiere screening of "Rocketman" wrapped on Thursday evening, Egerton was spotted in the audience crying as viewers rose from their chairs to give the actor a massive standing ovation. Hartley had previously worked with Sting on the Disney film The Emperors New Groove. But to be honest, it just never happened. If it maintains that spread, it'll earn between $170 million and $184 million worldwide, or 4.45x its $41 million budget. David Appleby/Paramount Pictures. 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. It was Edward Richard Smith, often known as Mad Teddy Smith by many. Taron Egerton: Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA 2020 Winner Golden Reel Award: Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing - Musical for Feature Film Andy Patterson (music editor) He demonstrated a natural talent for playing a wide range of songs by ear when he began playing guitar at the age of seven. It's going to be compromised by all of the paraphernalia of filmmaking. 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. For us, of course, we hope that international audiences connect with the movie and love it in the way that they love Eltons music. How did your mom react to seeing you in all these costumes? But I just havent led a PG-13 rated life.. Taron Egerton plays Elton John in Rocketman, a biopic about the Rockstar. Bring it up to the director, Im with you," he said. It's not quite our Elton. Simply the Worlds Most Interesting Travel Site. Taron Egerton (Elton John) plays Elton in this film from his teens through his late 30s. The 72-year-old singer-songwriter apparently loved what he saw, at least according to producer Matthew Vaughn. Hes both at once incredibly vulnerable and incredibly intimidating Theres a spark in him and you feel it when you meet him. "And I will not get to 40 without having done it, because if I do it now and put my mind to it, in three years I could potentially be singing and accompany myself. It has been suggested that Egertons voice is similar to that of Elton John. All Rights reserved. . He repaid the gift by dressing in drag with his girlfriend, then leaving a Polaroid of the look in John and Furnish's guest book at their house in France. 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. Previously, he served as a Music Editor at PEOPLE and VH1.com. Egerton clarified his sexuality by stating, One of the boys was at his London house.. Sure, Taron Egerton is on screen made up and dressed up like Elton John, but in short order he storms out of a . His given name, Taran, is a misreading of the Welsh word meaning thunder. 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. 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. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. "I mean, there's no two ways about it," Egerton says in a new EW interview for The Awardist podcast. The actor admitted that playing John was an intimidating experience. Taron Egerton was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Elton John in the film Rocketman. Its not any other description you want to give it. 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. Whether this guy was a bit off the wall or not, it was a line that inspired Elton. Taron Egerton stars as Elton John in Rocketman. Showing all 25 wins and 86 nominations. Taron Egerton was essential in making the Kingsman series a box office hit, and he raised his popularity and a net worth significantly with his leading role in Rocketman. Taron Egerton faces down the KGB in trailer for Cold War thriller about the true story of. "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]. 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. This Four-Year-Old 'Modern Family' Cast Member Was Able To Double Her Salary. The gay community has been burned so many times before by LGBTQ+ movie representation that theyre practically calloused. Suddenly, Illumination had another major property on their hands, and soon enough, the ball got rolling on a sequel project. But the lesson of the movie is that although you can be who you want to be, you still have to love yourself, you still have to love that kid who had all of these dreams and talents. That rock-bottom moment provides the film's frame, which means this is more than just a paint-by-numbers saunter . Julian Day, who Ive worked with before, is an extraordinarily gifted designer. With an R rating and a studio willing to stick to that creative decision Rocketman skipped opening in China entirely. There was no element of awkwardness or strangeness. I caught a touch of that.. Submit a correction suggestion and help us fix it! It was what they wanted from the movie, and everything else was just a distraction. There's just something and it's not really something that you can define". Rocket Man. "I think that's how you know he really likes you," Egerton says proudly. But Elton John is also an extraordinarily outspoken celebrity, especially about the tough stuff. Thats the whole point of Elton John being Elton John. Dates to Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour: 'I Cherish These Memories'. Within the first few minutes of "Rocketman," we know this is no typical biopic. 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. 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 . ", There were physical transformations a painted gap between his front teeth, his hairline shaved down to mimic John's early baldness. The performance is taking place as a result of him taking singing lessons. Related: Which Cast Member Of How To Get Away With Murder Has The Highest Salary Besides Viola Davis? There is no information on how much Taron Egerton earned in the part of Rocketman. 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. 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He was profoundly moved, Egerton says. Rocketman is an upcoming film based on the life of Elton John that stars Taron Egerton as the singer as a young boy. ", Because Rocketman is a film about a gay '70s rock icon, comparisons to Bohemian Rhapsody were inevitable, even before both had been released. 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. Saturday Nights Alright for Fighting is an old-school production number performed by a massive ensemble at a 1950s carnival. Which was important, Fletcher says, because the last thing they wanted to be was The Also-Ran Rocketman.. It was a brilliant idea to have Taron play Elton, says Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher. "We see him in some fairly compromising scenarios. And because he was moved, I was moved, and we all got a little teary.. Cast against type as Elton John in " Rocketman ," Egerton had to channel a pop god while also making the . On the small screen, the actor has worked on projects like Watership Down, Moominvalley, and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. Rocketman, which John and Furnish spent over a decade trying to bring to the screen, could have easily suffered from its subject being too close to both the story and its star. Taron Egerton plays Elton John in Rocketman from Paramount Pictures. Then theres the specter of Bohemian Rhapsody to talk through. 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 spent a portion of his teenage in the Wirral Peninsula. Do You Know Sandra Mason Net Worth, Biography, Career? It was all you can hope for. Its something hes never heard before. By providing an email address. Its lead starinsert shady eyes emojiis heard doing his own singing in the final film version. "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. It is possible that John played all of the piano parts himself, or he may have had help from other musicians. Or, frankly, been in it at all. This was great news for Egerton, who was able to tack on another hit to his resume. Everything about it was extraordinary.. Elton clearly desired it, and he had no reservations about it. When you get to the end of your teens, youre not like, Thats the end of my teens! Youre like, Yeah! He defines himself as a working-class man. 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. 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. "I just want to have something that can accompany a vocal so that when I sing late at night at parties in a completely unsolicited fashion, it looks a little bit more valid and justified," he says. 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. Rocketman will be in British cinemas on May 24, 2019. Adam Driver: Net Worth, Biography, Career, Personal, And Facts, Garrett Hedlund Net Worth, Biography, Career, Personal, And Facts, Jamie Bell Net Worth, Biography, Career, Personal, And Facts, John Cazale: Net Worth, Biography, Career, Personal, And Facts, Lee J Cobb: Net Worth, Biography, Career, Personal, And Facts. Theres a world in which Elton maybe shouldnt have taken him too seriously (laughs). Im not going to say Im amazing now, but I can bash out a few tunes. Egerton also revealed that he did his own singing in the film, with some help from a vocal coach. Im lucky enough to write about film and television for a living, with some fun trivia sprinkled in, too. Egerton has the same charisma and enthusiasm as he does when he plays an actor. Egertons dedication to the role is evident in his performance, and the film is definitely worth watching for his impressive portrayal of Elton John. (Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher, above with Egerton on set, was also tapped to finish up Rhapsody after Bryan Singer's exit. 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. For more on Elton Johns astonishing rise to fame and new biopic Rocketman, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE on newsstands now. Even though Taron was born in England and has just one Welsh grandfather, Egerton identifies himself as Welsh. Taron Egerton looking sharp in Kingsman: The Golden Circle. Its not a biopic. 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. You may opt-out by, Janelle Mone Returns To Music With New Single Float, Tove Lo Shares New Song Borderline Co-Written By Dua Lipa, Rebecca Black Sets Fire To Her Past On Her Debut Album Let Her Burn, Lizzo And SZA Team Up For A Special Remix, Shania Twain Celebrates Being The Queen Of Me On Her New Album, Ava Max Releases Her Sophomore Album Diamonds & Dancefloors, Rosala Shows Her English Singing Skills On New Single LLYLM. Egerton is a multilingual actor who is fluent in both Welsh and English. Elton met Egerton for the first time in 2017, when he was cast as a small part in Kingsman: The Golden Circle. They began to spend time together as a result, however, after Elton vetoed Tom Hardy, who was supposed to play the Rocketman, explaining, I couldnt sing. The actor and his subject, as they have Throughout their friendship, Egerton and Elton exchanged stories about everything from music to life as a whole. "Rocketman works and thrives when it feels like it's existing in a realm that isn't quite our world. At the end of its theatrical run, Sing had grossed north of $600 million, making it a genuine hit. Although you can kill the person you were born to be to become the person you want to be, you also have to love your authentic self.. But that guys drunk onstage drinking whiskey, sweating, looking like hes going to fall off the stage any minute, giving this electric performance. He seems to have kept his head about him as he's anchored a nearly-billion dollar hit global franchise (the first two Kingsman films, with one more not this year's prequel to go on his contract) and kept his chin up when other massively expensive tentpole endeavors netted out in the red (Robin Hood). His 1976 coming out interview in Rolling Stone was the first of its kind, making him essentially the most famous queer person in the world. How much did the costumes help you portray the essence of Elton John? When fans ask why he sings so well on piano, they are interested in knowing if he really knows how to play it. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. It should have been his crowning achievement, but just days before John had tried to take his own life. 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. says the actress. Egerton was a regular cast member of Sky1s The Smoke television series. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from Coffy to Jackie Brown. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. They have a beautiful home and theyre beautiful people, says Egerton. If youre a pianist, the easiest Elton John song to play is 4- Rocket Man. 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. But now I don't think my heart would flutter. Rocketman is in theaters May 31st. 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. Egerton (right) and Jamie Bell PARAMOUNT. At the age of 11, he received a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music for his talents. Both Egerton and Elton share a lot in common, including their love of cars, and we believe that their friendship is a testament to the power of connection. 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.. Its, of course, hard work. But then he had to park his troubles and go be Elton John. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Egerton did not meet John until after the film Kingsman: The Golden Circle had finished. Taron is Eltons greatest fan, according to producer Giles Martin. His essence is as if a kaleidoscope exploded into a person: trippy, messy, hypnotizing, bright, garish, and altogether unique and fabulous. If any of this was considered a gamble, it seems to be paying off. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. In Hollywood, theres always serendipity. There is a huge demographic of general moviegoers who are more-than-old-enough to see an R-rated movie in a theater but generally would prefer not to. They were watching the two young boy versions of themselves onscreen, and they looked like kids again. 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. He is a Welsh actor and singer. Elton John saw something special in Taron Egerton from the beginning! And mainly I just watched what happened to that movie feeling intensely proud for my friend Dexter. Starring names like Taron Egerton, Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, and Scarlett Johansson, Sing boasted an incredible voice cast and a fantastic story, both of which contributed to its success. He received recognition for his roles in Smoke and the 2014 action comedy picture Kingsman: The Secret Service. The Secret Service. It didnt require a cynical bent to expect it to happen again with Rocketman. 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 . Egerton strived to hit notes along that same liminal spectrum. Don't miss out on the latest news and information. Did he enjoy playing the music icon? Yes, yes he did. Ive been doing singing lessons Elton John hints at upcoming new music in this quote from his song Dont Tell Me How It Feels. After years of retirement, Elton John is putting pen to paper on new songs. To Vaughn, the movie was a no-brainer. It has just become a very normal thing now, being a part of Elton's life, and David and the boys, their sons.".