Taron Egerton’s star is on the ascendant right now. He broke out as scally turned secret agent Eggsy Unwin in Matthew Vaughn’s surprise smash-hit Kingsman and is soon to reprise the role in the hotly anticipated Kingsman: The Golden Circle. Now, we’re hearing that he might be lined up for an altogether more tuneful role as Reggie Dwight, aka Elton John in the long rumoured biopic, Rocketman.
The report comes from The Daily Mail, so don’t so much take it with a pinch of salt than with a double fistful, but they’re saying he’s the frontrunner for the part, with the script written by Lee Hall and Dexter Fletcher directing. The project depicts Elton John’s early career after he won a piano scholarship, met longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, and released some seriously toe-tapping pop.
Once confirmed for Tom Hardy, Egerton also looks like a good fit for the role. Just check out this video of him performing John’s I’m Still Standing in Sing, which easily proves he’s got the vocal gymnastics necessary for the job. On top of that, Elton John is confirmed to be making a cameo in The Golden Circle, so there’s a very good chance the pair sat down for a chat about the project while on set.
Rocketman looks like it’s in with a chance to rise above music biopic mediocrity, with Egerton likely eager to prove himself in a role that, theoretically, could have awards potential. Word is that the film is now being fast-tracked into full production, so we should hear more about Rocketman very soon. As always, watch this space for more.