Editorial Staff
Paramount looks to have a hit on their hands with their Elton John biopic “Rocketman”, if footage shown today at CinemaCon is anything to go by.
Dancers took to the stage (dancing to the beat of John’s “I’m Still Standing”) before the screen gave way to footage from the Dexter Fletcher-directed musical. According to those in the room, the footage was different from what was recently shown to press in L.A.
Says Deadline :
It started with John (née Reginald Dwight) as a startling piano prodigy kid who enters the Academy of Music but wants to rock rather than playing “dead people’s music.” We learn how Reggie changed his name and ultimately played his first U.S. concert at the Troubadour in 1970 — with Neil Diamond and half of the Beach Boys in the audience.
Fletcher, who stepped in to finish the mega-musical blockbuster Bohemian Rhapsody, does not skimp on the tunes. Featured in just the 10 or so minutes we saw here in Vegas were such iconic songs as “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” (in a scene set at a carnival), “Daniel,” “That’s Why They Call It The Blues,” “Sad Songs (Say So Much),” “Your Song,” “Bennie and the Jets,” “Crocodile Rock” and “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me.”
We also get a glimpse of John’s struggles when Egerton’s doppelgänger says, “Maybe I should have tried to be more ordinary.” Jamie Bell’s Bernie Taupin replies, “You were never ordinary.”
Egerton and Fletcher came to the stage after the clip, with the director noting, “Elton is known for his spectacle and theatricality, so bringing his music to big screen was a challenge and also exciting.” He also wanted to make sure they provided “a truthful and honest portrayal. It was important to him and us.”
Here’s what others there had to say about it :
Saw some extended footage of ROCKETMAN. Looks to be a little more stylized than BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY. But def fueled by lead performance and some ?♂️ music biopic moments. pic.twitter.com/ow1jmmbEPG
— Jason Guerrasio (@JasonGuerrasio) April 4, 2019
BIG response to extended #Rocketman footage — a truncated version of what was screened to NY and LA press last month — perhaps biggest cheers of #CinemaCon yet.
— Kate Erbland (@katerbland) April 4, 2019
Taron Egerton on stage for Rocketman after an excellent extended trailer. #CinemaCon pic.twitter.com/cJDhDAjz9f
— Rob Keyes (@rob_keyes) April 4, 2019
Just saw an extended first look at #RocketMan, which looks, sounds and feels wonderful. The mix of traditional biopic with heightened fantastical musical performances is unique & vibrant & visually stunning. Can’t wait to see the rest. In theaters May 31#CinemaCon pic.twitter.com/A4tZeRGWDB
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) April 4, 2019
We just saw maybe 10-15 minutes worth of ROCKETMAN. Holy fuck, y’all. This movie looks so, so good. There’s no way Egerton doesn’t end up with an Oscar nomination. I am all in for this movie.
— Scott Wampler™ @ CinemaCon (@ScottWamplerBMD) April 4, 2019
“Rocketman” hits theaters May 31.
