If you're curious what will differentiate the upcoming Elton John bio-pic, Rocketman, from Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, director Dexter Fletcher, who worked on both, says Rocketman is not a traditional docu-drama.
Fletcher tells Rolling Stone, “Elton is all about fantasy and imagination and magic. We wanted to use his songs to elevate this to be more than just a bio-pic. We wanted to make a magical fantasy that tells the story of his life, or at least elements of his life."
Rocketman will also have more of a first-person perspective. Fletcher says, “He’s our narrator, and he’s telling the story as he recalls it. He’s dealing with his demons and trying to see the light again through the darkness. That lends itself to imagination and these kind of emotional beats and gestures. And what I find interesting about that is that I can tell you a story of an event that I remember, but it’s going to be colored by my own perception of what was going on at that time.”
Along the way, the film touches upon:
- His days before he became Elton John
- Meeting lyricist Bernie Taupin
- His relationship with his lover and manager John Reid, who also managed Queen and is portrayed inBo Rhap
- His U.S. debut at L.A.’s Troubadour in 1970
- His battles with drugs and alcohol
Rocketmanopens in theaters on May 31st.