4 things you need to know about Rocketman, the biopic about Elton John
The musical biopic Rocketman, depicting the life of Elton John, is this summer’s must-see flick. Starring a solid cast including Taron Egerton and Richard Madden, the film is filled with chart-topping hits, jaw-dropping costumes and incredible acting chops.
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Yet despite what you think you already know about the film, here are four little details that might have escaped your attention.
The costumes were meant to evoke the spirit of Elton John
All of the 88 costumes that Egerton wears were, in a word, fabulous. So you’d be forgiven if you thought they were exact representations of actual costumes worn by the real Elton John on stage.
Julian Day, costume designer for Rocketman (and also the costume designer for Bohemian Rhapsody ), said in interviews that he wasn’t interested in creating replicas. Instead, he was more focused on creating pieces that evoked the spirit of Elton John.
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“I didn’t want to replicate what we’d seen before. Not that it wasn’t fantastic – we just wanted to create our own film,” Day told CNN Style.
The closest he got to replicating a costume was the impossibly sparkly Dodger’s baseball uniform originally created by Elton John’s real-life and long-time costume designer, Bob Mackie.
For this particular look, Day used 140,000 Swarovski crystals (out of more than one million used for the entire film) to bring the costume to life.
Rami Malek almost made a cameo appearance
As any music buff would know, Elton John’s and Queen’s careers not only overlapped – but John Reid also managed them both during the height of their respective careers. So, we have to wonder, why didn’t they have Rami Malek (who played Freddie Mercury to critical acclaim in Bohemian Rhapsody’) pop over for a wee cameo? It wouldn’t have been too much of a stretch (we assume).
So it doesn’t surprise us to hear that that was also something Dexter Fletcher, the director, had in mind. In an interview with Gay Star News, he revealed a potential scene that could have played out in the film.
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“There was an idea I had one point, where Elton’s in a restaurant with his mother,” he said. “I thought John Reid and Freddie could be at another table and they wave at each other!”
But ultimately, he decided against it.
“It would’ve been a little too knowing,” Fletcher said, adding: “I’m not looking to set out to make a cinematic universe!”
Luxury jewellery brand Chopard was behind the bling
What’s Elton John without some sparkle? Earrings, necklaces, watches and other gorgeous accessories spotted on-screen were all designed by Chopard, a luxury Swiss jewellery brand.
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The brand is known for its jewellery designs as well as for leading the path to using sustainable materials including ethical gold and sustainably sourced gems.
Throughout the film, Egerton sports a variety of pieces, from Chopard Happy Hearts earrings to a Happy Diamond pendant and everything in-between.
There’s also a Game of Thrones link between Rocketman and Bohemian Rhapsody
Call it coincidence or whatever you will – but this is the second film where the character of Reid is played by a Game of Thrones alumnus.
In Bohemian Rhapsody, Reid is played by Aidan Gillen who portrayed the super creepy Petyr Baelish (aka “Littlefinger”) in Game of Thrones. In Rocketman, Reid comes across as a slimy, but incredibly magnetic figure, by Madden, who played Robb Stark in Game of Thrones.
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Why actor Taron Egerton wears 140,000 Swarovski crystals on one costume and Rami Malek almost has cameo in biopic of English singer-songwriter Elton John’s early career