CANNES – Taron Egerton is earning raves for his performance as Elton John in the new Dexter Fletcher musical “Rocketman” and it’s made him well, a bit emotional. After the premiere at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, Egerton was caught crying during the film’s standing ovation and it was the first thing he was asked about at the film’s official press conference.
“Alright, alright. Let’s stop talking about it. I got a bit emotional,” Egerton says. “It was one of the best days of my life. We’ve worked really hard to try and make something we’re all really proud of and it’s not your typical biopic. We don’t deal with the songs in chronological order. We deal with fantasy. We take some license with the truth. In the interest of full disclosure, people did not float off the ground at The Troubadour. The response has been so wonderful. For me, personally, thank you so much to everyone that said nice things. You’ve made a young man from Aberystwyth incredibly happy. You’ve made a 72-year-old rock star even more happy. So, thank you very much.”
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Fletcher had the unusual experience of directing both “Rocketman” and coming in to help get “Bohemian Rhapsody” across the finish line after Bryan Singer was fired with just one week left of shooting. The 20th Century Fox release went on to earn a Best Picture nomination and win four Oscars including Best Actor for Rami Malek. Both Egerton and Malek play two of the biggest rock stars of the latter half of the 20th Century. Two men who were both British, both had substance abuse problems and both publicly came out as gay men. After feigning exasperation over a reporter who asked about his Oscar chances, Egerton approached the elephant in the room head-on.
“Inevitably the film has drawn comparisons with ‘Bohemian Rhapsody.’ Rami Malek performance in that movie is astonishing. I’m lucky enough to know him a little personally, Dexter knows him quite well. He’s the nicest most brilliant man and one of the most talented actors of our generation. And I’m very very proud we are mentioned in the same breath,” Egerton says. “But that film has been such a global phenomenon and success and rightly so. It’s a great, rip-roaring piece of entertainment. It’s great fun. I can’t remember who did that movie or finished it? [Laughs.] But our movie is a different animal. It is a musical. It requires an actor who can sing in the lead role. For a biopic that’s not necessary because they just [lip-sync] to the pieces [their character is] singing. I’m very grateful that people compare us and hopefully, it shows there is an appetite for movies of this nature. However, that movie is a unicorn and I don’t want to be forever judged…”
And with that Fletcher interjects, “Any questions you have about Rocketman we’re more than happy to answer.” [Laughs.]
On a happier subject, Egerton revealed he and his girlfriend spent a few days with John and his husband before filming began. And for the most part, the pop icon let Fletcher, Egerton and screenwriter Lee Hall take creative liberties where they needed to. As Fletcher notes, “He was very clear he didn’t want it to be self-serving. There is no upside about that.”
“In terms of preparation you immerse yourself in his music,” Egerton says. “My fortune was being able to spend a lot of time with him and talk to him about anything. And having that wonderful privilege of being able to ask him anything. He’ll tell you everything.”
“Rocketman” opens nationwide May 29.