Elton John has described how he clashed with movie producers in order to make sure that his recent biopic Rocketman was as realistic as possible.
This Thursday, Rocketman is set to premiere in Aussie theatres. An immersive look at the life and career of iconic musician Elton John, it stars Taron Egerton in the film’s title role, and has already received widespread praise from early critical reviews.
However, the film has attracted a small amount of controversy in the process.
While the film has gained fame for being the first “major studio film to depict gay male sex” (according to The Hollywood Reporter), its casting has seen some commentators criticise the fact that Elton John is being portrayed by a straight actor.
Responding to these claims, Elton swiftly shut down any notion of controversy, stating simply; “That’s all bullshit, I’m sorry.”
“If people don’t like it, review-wise, or it doesn’t make one dollar, it’s the movie I wanted to make and that’s all that counts,” Elton explained. “I can look back and say, ‘You know what, I love it. I can live with it’.”
Check out the trailer for Rocketman:
Similarly, rumours had swirled that the film was in fact being “straightwashed”, with producers supposedly removing a gay sex scene in order to appeal to a wider audience. Producer Matthew Vaughn soon denied this, noting that filmmakers had “set out to make an R-rated movie.”
“Our contract said it was an R-rated film,” he explained.
In a new piece penned for The Guardian, Elton John opened up about the content of Rocketman, noting how the film went through years of development hell because potential producers were worried that the realism of the film would make it unsuitable for audiences.
“Some studios wanted to tone down the sex and drugs so the film would get a PG-13 rating,” he revealed. “But I just haven’t led a PG-13 rated life.”
“I didn’t want a film packed with drugs and sex, but equally, everyone knows I had quite a lot of both during the 70s and 80s, so there didn’t seem to be much point in making a movie that implied that after every gig, I’d quietly gone back to my hotel room with only a glass of warm milk and the Gideon’s Bible for company.”
While Rocketman premieres in Aussie theatres this Thursday, Elton John is set to hit up local stages later this year when he touches down for his final tour of Australia. Check out all the details below.
Check out Elton John’s ‘Rocket Man’:
Elton John Farewell Yellow Brick Road Australia 2019-2020
Saturday, November 30th, 2019
HBF Park, Perth, WA
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Sunday, December 1st, 2019
HBF Park, Perth, WA
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Wednesday, December 4th, 2019
Botanic Park Adelaide, Adelaide, SA
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Thursday, December 5th, 2019
Botanic Park Adelaide, Adelaide, SA
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Tuesday, December 10th, 2019
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
Tickets: Ticketek
Wednesday, December 11th, 2019
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
Tickets: Ticketek
Saturday, December 14th, 2019
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
Tickets: Ticketek
Sunday, December 15th, 2019
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
Tickets: Ticketek
Wednesday, December 18th, 2019
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, QLD
Tickets: Ticketek
Thursday, December 19th, 2019
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, QLD
Tickets: Ticketek
Saturday, December 21st, 2019
ICC Sydney Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Ticketek
Monday, December 23rd, 2019
ICC Sydney Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Ticketek
Tuesday, January 7th, 2020
Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Ticketek
Thursday, January 9th, 2020
Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Ticketek
Saturday, January 11th, 2020
Hope Estate, Hunter Valley, NSW
Tickets: Ticketek
Sunday, January 12th, 2020
Hope Estate, Hunter Valley, NSW
Tickets: Ticketek
Tuesday, January 14th, 2020
Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Ticketek
Thursday, January 14th, 2020
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, QLD
Tickets: Ticketek
Saturday, January 18th, 2020
A Day On The Green
Sirromet Wines, Mount Cotton, QLD
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Sunday, January 19th, 2020
A Day On The Green
Sirromet Wines, Mount Cotton, QLD
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Wednesday, January 22nd, 2020
Carrington Park, Bathurst, NSW
Tickets: Ticketek
Saturday, January 25th, 2020
Hanging Rock, Woodend, VIC
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Sunday, January 26th, 2020
Hanging Rock, Woodend, VIC
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Wednesday, January 29th, 2020
A Day On The Green
All Saints Estate, Rutherglen, VIC
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Friday, January 31st, 2020
A Day On The Green
Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley, VIC
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Saturday, February 1st, 2020
A Day On The Green
Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley, VIC
Tickets: Ticketmaster
