Taron Egerton Is A ROCKETMAN (And Tom Hardy Isn’t)

Elton John biopic Rocketman has been in development for some years now. Tom Hardy was originally cast in the role of the singer-songwriter back in 2013, when the film was due to be directed by The Greatest Showman's Michael Gracey, but the project stalled before production could begin.

Now, Taron Egerton is in talks to replace Hardy, with Eddie The Eagle's Dexter Fletcher taking directorial duties. Matthew Vaughn will produce, alongside John himself, while the script comes courtesy of Billy Elliot's Lee Hall. The film will start in John's childhood and cover his rise to fame, his working relationship with lyricist Bernie Taupin, and the various controversies that dogged him along the way.

John has also been reported to appear in Vaughn and Egerton's Kingsman: The Golden Circle, so everyone's probably nice and chummy by now. And with John producing his own biopic, and the director and star of 2016's most shamelessly feel-good movie at the top of the billing block, there's zero chance this won't be a bit of a saccharine hagiography. But hey, Eddie the Eagle was a fun time. If Egerton has the pipes to match his boundless charisma (as he reportedly does), Rocketman could be too.

William Shatner could not be reached for comment.

***UPDATED***

As happens delightfully frequently around here, we've been alerted to the fact that Taron Egerton has actually already sung an Elton John song onscreen, in last year's animated feature Sing. We didn't see Sing, so we plead ignorance on this one. But here's Taron as an animated ape, with "I'm Still Standing":