Of course, R-rated musical doesnt necessarily have the cha-ching ring of dollar signs to it. They were PG13, we are an R. Thats not to say that there isnt crossover. Elton Johns early influences paved the way for his incredible career. 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. Actor Taron Egerton had some big, . But still, "There isn't one moment in the film where I'm miming. Im lucky enough to write about film and television for a living, with some fun trivia sprinkled in, too. Within the first few minutes of "Rocketman," we know this is no typical biopic. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. "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. 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. There is no one definitive answer to this question. Previously, he served as a Music Editor at PEOPLE and VH1.com. Ive done some nudity, but never a love scene. The 72-year-old singer-songwriter apparently loved what he saw, at least according to producer Matthew Vaughn. Bring it up to the director, Im with you," he said. So for them to have that reaction was incredible. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. hook due to Aladdin's surprising popularity. It's a strange comparison, but consider Avengers: Age of Ultron which debuted with mostly positive reviews only to be tagged as a miss when it "only" opened with $191 million and caught got up in the "It's problematic!" Rocketman is in theaters May 31st. 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. It was a brilliant idea to have Taron play Elton, says Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher. We felt that was an important story beat in Eltons life because its about finding love. It didnt require a cynical bent to expect it to happen again with Rocketman. The answer to this and other questions can be found below. Based on the life and career of singer Elton John (played by Taron Egerton), the film focuses on his early years. Your subscription could not be saved. What Men Want earned a solid $72 million on a $20 million budget, butWonder Parkflopped hard and (likeRocketman) thePet Semetaryremake felt like a let down because it didn't really break out ($121 million on a $21 million budget). "And Taron came down one day and sat on the front lawn of our house, on a nice . There are different scenarios you play out in your head when you watch a movie youve worked so hard on for such a long time. 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. 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. From Austin Butler and Cate Blanchett to a potential Best Supporting Actress toss-up, see who EW thinks will win at the 2023 Oscars. Bennie and the Jets (Interlude) Taron Egerton. At this current rate of play, it should end its domestic run with around $85 million-to-$90 million. The latest movie news, trailers, reviews, and more. 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. That iconic Dodger Stadium performance is a part of rock history, says Egerton. 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. As Richard has said, its in the movie because its not a gay sex scene. How much did the costumes help you portray the essence of Elton John? "My voice gets deeper over the course of the film, and my accent changes. 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. It goes from being quite London to quite transatlantic by the end of it. We wanted the LGBTQ community to feel a sense of ownership over the film and be championed by it, Egerton says, explaining that he completely understood the scrutiny those aspects of the film were under and the fears the final cut would need to address. 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 . 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. "Taron Egerton plays Elton John in Rocketman from Paramount Pictures. He has a real duality to him. 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. Taron Egerton did an admirable job portraying Elton John in the 2019 biopic Rocketman, but many fans were curious about one thing: whether or not Egerton actually played the piano in the film. Patiently waiting for the X-Men to enter the MCU and help take down Galactus! We are, sure, celebrating a pop stars life, but we are also celebrating a standard bearer of that communitys life. He received recognition for his roles in Smoke and the 2014 action comedy picture Kingsman: The Secret Service. The Secret Service. Johnny, the teenage gorilla, was a part of the animated film Sing. "Rocketman works and thrives when it feels like it's existing in a realm that isn't quite our world. Simply the Worlds Most Interesting Travel Site. But to the extent that it feels like a disappointment, it's because Paramount frankly needed a biggie. 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. For Julian to take that established aesthetic and create something new, I find that inspiring and exciting personally. "Rocketman" begins with him singing underwater at the bottom of a pool, where he would. 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. To see the ink that he wrote these songs in, beginning when hes about 23 and going through to probably when he was nearly 30, was just incredible., Through spending time together, Egerton recognized the two sides of John the superstar and the man behind the bejeweled sunglasses. 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. Egerton was a regular cast member of Sky1s The Smoke television series. When he performed as a gorilla in Sing, he first met the singer. 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. Whether this guy was a bit off the wall or not, it was a line that inspired Elton. It's going to be compromised by all of the paraphernalia of filmmaking. Or, at the very least, amusing coincidences that can be retrofitted to make it seem as if certain things were written in the stars. Academy Awards, USA 2020 Winner Oscar . 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. Egerton, according to Furnish, has the same sensitivity and gentleness as Elton, but also the same manliness. It is possible that John played all of the piano parts himself, or he may have had help from other musicians. "I have this Forrest Gump-ian way of touching something and it becomes a hit!" This is a BETA experience. "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. Sure, Taron Egerton is on screen made up and dressed up like Elton John, but in short order he storms out of a . The music is now always going to be something extra special and important. However, Taron Egerton did re-record all of the hits in for, and this did not happen. In the film, it is revealed how Reginald Dwight transformed from a street musician to a legendary musician. Its not any other description you want to give it. "I was most proud of the work that was characterized by being only really suitable for an older viewer," Egerton says. One of the memorable lines in the movie is, You have to kill the person you were born to be to become the person you want to be. Is this something you take to heart? It was moving to see how moved you were by the cheers and applause after the films gala screening in Cannes. On his website, Elton states that the music he composed and recorded needed to be sung by Taron. 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. Tom Sizemore, Heat and Saving Private Ryan Actor, Dead at 61 Based on a true fantasy, the story of Sir Elton John is being . 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. He spent a portion of his teenage in the Wirral Peninsula. Im not going to stop calling my friends cuties and lovely because they are., Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Snapchat. Taron Egerton oozed old Hollywood as he attended the 29th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles on Sunday.. The film's first single, Rocketman, has been released. 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. Garry Eggsy Unwin, Harry Harts (Colin Firth) young protg, was played by Matthew Vaughn in Kingsman: The Secret Service and Kingsman: The Golden Circle. After John and Furnish took him to Brandi Carlile's concert performance of Joni Mitchell's Blue as an early 30th birthday gift, they all wound up at Mitchell's house singing "Tiny Dancer" with Carlile. They (Elton and Bernie) were squeezing each others knee and tapping each other on the shoulders. To them, Rocketman was just another decent musical biopic with less razzle dazzle and less of a "must see this in theaters" allure. And where Elton John was known for refusing to take himself seriously, especially onstage, Egerton has approached this role of a lifetime as if it is, in fact, a lifelong commitment. But its an inspiring [line]. Of course, there is no way to talk about the exceptional work that Egerton has turned in without taking some time to focus on his work in the Sing franchise. He wasnt well. How Marvel went big with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Do You Know Gwendolyn Lizarraga Net Worth, Biography, Career? Theyre two celebrations of two hugely revered musical acts. The Welsh actor will be in charge of playing the legendary singer in this film. Our site has more than 2 million unique monthly visitors and 1 million subscribers. David Appleby/Paramount Pictures. Related: Dwayne Johnson's Film Debut Salary Broke A Guinness World Record. 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. The ability of Egerton to capture the essence of the late Sir Elton John was a tribute to his dedication to the role, according to Roberts. When another movie about a . 2016's Sing was an animated release from Illumination that was looking to leave its mark on audiences. To date, the film has scored nearly $250 million worldwide. And I think if I don't do myself the service of spending time learning that skill, then I'm an idiot.". 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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. Hes both at once incredibly vulnerable and incredibly intimidating Theres a spark in him and you feel it when you meet him. Per the site, Matthew McConaughey, who is voicing Buster Moon, will be the top-earning performer with an $800,000 salary. Excerpts from our interview with Taron in London: What is it about playing Elton John that surprised you? Rocketman is currently playing in theaters throughout the United Kingdom and around the world. And when I was hearing his voice, I was hearing me, but it wasnt me. That film is also a flashy musical fantasy, albeit one to which you can take the kids and (stereotypically speaking) your older parents. The British actor, 33, looked suave in a classic . Its, of course, hard work. All Rights reserved. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from Coffy to Jackie Brown. This was an enormous source of anxiety to me I believed that it would work, but I wasn't certain of it. Both men have experienced tragedy and triumph in their long careers, with Egerton revealing that he cried when he first heard Eltons new album. Egerton amassed his riches via his successful acting and singing careers. Its fantastic to see Egerton in Rocketman, and he adds a lot of depth to the film. If you've got a set with 200 people and you're singing a song, the audio that's captured in that moment isn't going to be unadulterated and pure. 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 . 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) Elton John appears in the film as a character actor. According to Showbiz Galore, Egerton will be taking home a solid $300,000 for his second time voicing Johnny in the Sing franchise. 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. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. In the films centerpiece scene, Egerton as John sings the title song before 50,000 people at L.A.s Dodger Stadium, the biggest solo show anyone had ever done up to that point. It has been suggested that Egertons voice is similar to that of Elton John. It would be a pale imitation, bad drag, or a valiant effort at best. Were extremely excited for the premiere of Rocketman at the 2020 Academy Awards because itll be directed by Taron Egerton. After selling over 250 million albums worldwide, the singer returns to the musical inspiration for a performance at a tribute concert for Leon Russell. Taron Egerton. Egerton is a multilingual actor who is fluent in both Welsh and English. 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. The actor enters awards season as not only Elton John's stand-in but now also a close friend and an accomplished singer. It's a combination of the Welsh word for flower and a reference to his love of RV camping. The Kingsman movies and Robin Hood star was just 18 when John first started developing a film about his life. I also had a penchant for gold hot pants It was during this time that I discovered the piano. think piece sandbox. When Egerton learned that Elton would be returning to the stage in 2020, he was overjoyed, proving that they are very much alike. Being feted by major awards organizations for Rocketman should liven up the mourning. 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). Taron Egerton as Elton John in 'Rocketman'. 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. Taron Egertons current net worth to be $10 million. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. The actor stated in an interview that he recently suffered from loneliness but that he is now pleased since he is dating a young lady. And mainly I just watched what happened to that movie feeling intensely proud for my friend Dexter. Taron is Eltons greatest fan, according to producer Giles Martin. Here come my twenties! But at the end of your twenties, you sort of go, Oh fuck. In areas where the actor was not performing, he had to learn to make it seem like he was, which needed additional instruction. 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. "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. 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.