Not only isTaron Egertonproviding his own voice to the fantasy-influencedElton JohnbiopicRocketman, but theKingsmanstar is also giving the world the valuable gift of an on-screen Elton who definitively, demonstrably fucks.THRreports the film landed an R-rating for sex scenes and drug use.
Much scuttlebutt has been made about a reported love scene between Egerton’s Elton John andRichard Madden’s John Reid, a former music manager. (Reid was also portrayed byAidan GilleninBohemian Rhapsody, a film that 100% did not fuck.) TheDaily Mailreported that directorDexter Fletcherwas under pressure from Paramount to cut at least part of the scene and maintain a PG-13 rating. The sequence in question—and please, if you’re standing I suggest you sit down and maybe grab smelling salts just in case—reportedly features “the F-word several times and includes brief rear nudity, and someone snorting cocaine.”
But Fletcher shot down the report, saying the still-in-the-editing-phaseRocketmanis a project “producers passionately support and believe in.”
The film—which also starsBryce Dallas Howard,Jamie Bell, andStephen Graham—hits theaters on May 31.
Here is the official synopsis forRocketman:
ROCKETMAN is an epic musical fantasy about the incredible human story of Elton John’s breakthrough years. The film follows the fantastical journey of transformation from shy piano prodigy Reginald Dwight into international superstar Elton John. This inspirational story – set to Elton John’s most beloved songs and performed by star Taron Egerton – tells the universally relatable story of how a small-town boy became one of the most iconic figures in pop culture. ROCKETMAN also stars Jamie Bell as Elton’s longtime lyricist and writing partner Bernie Taupin, Richard Madden as Elton’s first manager, John Reid, and Bryce Dallas Howard as Elton’s mother Sheila Farebrother.
