Taron Egerton and Elton John performed a few songs together from their critically-acclaimed film Rocketman following a screening in Los Angeles. The musical biopic took the world by storm when it first debuted earlier this year. Starring Egerton as Elton John himself, the film chronicled the singer’s life from his humble beginnings in the small town of Pinner in the UK as he skyrocketed to superstardom, set to some of his greatest hits along the way. It was praised for its transparent storytelling, which wasn’t afraid to dive into its R-rating, and for Egerton’s performance both behind the piano and in front of it.
Rocketman was directed by Dexter Fletcher, who also directed 2018’s musical biopic Bohemian Rhapsody after its original director, Bryan Singer, was fired from the project. Fletcher poured his heart and soul into Rocketman and made sure that John’s story was told exactly the way he wanted it to be. John actually played a big role in the film’s 12-year development and remarked that, even though some studios wanted to tone down the sex and drugs in the film for a PG-13 rating, he hadn’t led that kind of life. He fought hard for the film’s R-rating and the fight paid off with Paramount Pictures. The film proved to be a massive success for the company, earning an impressive $186.6 million worldwide from a $40 million budget.
Both John and Egerton are still celebrating the film’s success, as the duo made an appearance at a screening of Rocketman in Los Angeles to perform a few songs from the film. The screening was held at the Greek Theater with the Hollywood Symphony Orchestra playing along with the film. Following the screening, the duo stepped out to sing “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again”, which was an original song recorded by both Egerton and John for the film, and ended with John singing “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”. Check out a clip from Paramount Pictures of the musical evening below:
Considering the monumental success that Rocketman has seen over the past couple of months, it’s easy to see the musical biopic genre continuing to flourish. Matthew Vaughn, Rocketman’s producer, has even expressed interest in directing a movie about the legendary David Bowie. Though that hasn’t officially been confirmed, it would be surprising if his discography and musical legacy were the next to be explored in film.
Egerton and John have a strong love and admiration for one another that’s incredibly genuine. Egerton has expressed before how much he admires the singer, even before taking on the role, and John has exclaimed that Egerton’s performance in Rocketman was extraordinary. Performances aside, John’s songs were beautifully woven into the film’s narrative as well, making for an emotionally impactful story that’s sure to stand the test of time. The duo’s performances of “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” and “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” at the Greek Theater were perfect choices to end the screening with. Not only do they reflect John’s emotional arc in the film, but they show how he found a way to love himself again despite the negative moments in his life. They’re both incredible reminders that there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how dark it may seem.
Next: The Making of Rocketman: From the Costumes to the Music
Source: Paramount Pictures
