Report: “Kingsman” star recording Elton John classics for lead role in “Rocketman” biopic

Dan Weir

7 years ago

Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty ImagesElton John made a cameo appearance in last year’s action comedy Kingsman: The Golden Circle. Now, it appears as though one of Elton’s Kingsman co-stars will be portraying the rock legend in his upcoming biopic — and he’ll be singing Elton’s songs, too.

The Daily Mail reports that Taron Egerton, who played the main character, Eggsy, in both Kingsman movies, will portray a young Elton in the film Rocketman, which will explore how Elton became the superstar that he is today.

According to the paper, this past week, Egerton recorded two of John’s songs at London’s famed Abbey Road studios for the movie’s soundtrack. Taron has already proven he’s good at singing Elton songs: He belted out “I’m Still Standing” in the movie Sing!, as the voice of Johnny the gorilla.

The Mail reports that Taron will portray Elton from age 18 forward; a different actor will play him as a boy, when he was a student at the Royal Academy of Music.

The film is being produced by Matthew Vaughn, who directed the Kingsman movies, and the screenplay is by Lee Hall, who co-wrote the musical Billy Elliot with Elton. Filming on the long-in-the-works movie is expected to start in May or June.