The full-length trailer for Rocketman has arrived. Kingsman’s Taron Egerton stars in the film as a young Elton John, with Dexter Fletcher calling the shots as director. Fletcher infamously took over directing Bohemian Rhapsody part-way through production, after original helmer Bryan Singer was fired.

Rocketman, much like the Queen biopic, was in development for several years before it landed an official green light last spring. Sir Elton John once named Justin Timberlake as his top choice to play him in the film, but that casting never materialized. James McAvoy was also rumored for the role before Tom Hardy was cast in 2013, with Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) set to direct. Obviously, that iteration of the project fell apart and things didn’t start moving forward again until Egerton signed on in 2017. It’s been smooth sailing since then though, with the marketing for Rocketman now entering its next stage.

Paramount has released the official trailer for Rocketman online, ahead of its debut in theaters over the forthcoming weeks. You can watch the new promo in the space below.

Rocketman was written by Lee Hall (Billy Elliot) and spans John’s life from his pre-fame days as the “shy piano prodigy” Reginald Dwight to his career as international superstar Elton John. The film isn’t a conventional biopic either, as evidenced by the musical fantasy sequences glimpsed in the trailer footage unveiled so far. At the same time, it does cover the broader strokes of John’s experiences, including his professional triumphs, personal struggles, and the most important relationships in his life. Among the key supporting players here are Jamie Bell (Snowpiercer) as John’s lifelong lyricist Bernie Taupin, Bryce Dallas Howard (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) as his mother Sheila Farbrother, and Richard Madden (Bodyguard) as his first manager, John Reid.

The movie is also unique is the sense that Egerton does his own singing, as opposed to being dubbed by the real Elton John’s vocals. Previously-released clips have offered a sneak peek of the actor leaving his mark on iconic tunes like “Tiny Dancer” and, of course, “Rocketman” in the film, as does the full-length trailer. This isn’t the first time Egerton’s shown off his musical talents on the big screen either, having previously sung in Illumination’s animated movie Sing. Tackling Elton John songs is certainly no small task, but the actor seems to have succeeded in capturing the spirit of John’s music, while also putting a fresh spin on the sound. Here’s hoping Rocketman is equally successful in its endeavor to do justice by the singer-songwriter’s wildly unpredictable life.

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Source: Paramount Pictures

  • Rocketman Release Date: 2019-05-31