Just a couple of months away from the release of action sequel Kingsman: The Golden Circle, the franchise's star has already booked his next major gig — and it's a doozy. Taron Egerton will play Elton John in Rocketman, a biopic about the iconic musician's early life, as reported by the Daily Mail. The 27-year-old Welsh actor will replace the project's original leading man, Tom Hardy, whose involvement was announced way back in 2013. According to the Daily Mail, Hardy bowed out of Rocketman, partly due to his inexperience with singing. But the movie's new star should have no such trouble.
Even though Egerton's name may be more unfamiliar than Hardy's, he's actually a perfect choice for such a high-profile role. Ever since starring in his first feature film in 2014 — the period drama Testament Of Youth, alongside future Oscar winner Alicia Vikander and Game of Thrones heartthrob Kit Harington — the Welshman's star has been on the rise. He now headlines two separate action franchises — Kingsman and the upcoming Robin Hood reboot, starring Egerton as the titular bandit and Jamie Foxx as Little John. He also had roles in biopics like Legend and Eddie The Eagle, as well as voice work in animated films like Sing.
In many ways, Rocketman is the perfect convergence of Egerton's career. Hardy was likely instrumental in recommending Egerton as his replacement, given that they previously played a pair of homicidal lovers in Legend. Additionally, Rocketman is directed by Dexter Fletcher, who also directed Egerton in Eddie The Eagle, and it's produced by Matthew Vaughn, the director of the Kingsman franchise. Speaking of Kingsman, Elton John himself has a top-secret role in The Golden Circle. And finally, Rocketman will allow Egerton to put his vocal talent to good use, a surprising skill he shared with the world in Sing.
If your ears have yet to be blessed with the sound of Egerton's dulcet tones, here are clips that prove he has the chops to play one of the most legendary singers of all time.
1. Musical Pop Quiz
There was that time he had to finish the lyric on the spot.
2. Gotta Have Faith
Or that time he revealed his go-to karaoke song.
3. Live & In Person
He wasn't lying, either. Here's Egerton actually performing that song at karaoke.
4. Having My Baby
And here he is crooning a ballad in one of his first roles on the British TV series Lewis.
5. Dream Team
His co-star in Eddie The Eagle was the equally vocally talented actor Hugh Jackman, so naturally they recorded a song together for the film.
6. The Time Of My Life
Egerton and Jackman just couldn't stop singing with each other, breaking out into song on their press tour…
7. Carpool Karaoke
… and in taxi cabs …
8. Beauty & The Beer
…and even on talk shows.
9. Baby Drivers
Jackman isn't the only costar Egerton jams with either. Here he is scatting a tune with Ansel Elgort on the set of Billionaire Boys Club, the upcoming crime drama they're headlining together.
10. Undead Rock
Egerton got the chance to sing several recognizable tunes as the musically-inclined gorilla Johnny in 2016's Sing, like this '60s track by The Zombies.
11. Slay With Me
And here's a snippet of Johnny auditioning with Sam Smith's notoriously difficult "Stay With Me"… and totally nailing it.
12. Legendary
Johnny's piano skills may need some work, but his vocal skills are on point on this John Legend track.
13. Stand By Me
Finally — and most appropriately — for his grand finale, Johnny rocked out to this 1983 track by none other than Elton John himself, which must have served as some sort of impromptu audition for his future role.
Oh, and if you're somehow still not convinced of Egerton's talent, just listen to the lyrical way the name of his hometown, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, seems to just roll off his tongue:
Impressive, no?
Get used to hearing Egerton's name. Given the news of his Rocketman casting, it doesn't sound like this budding star is going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, the Era of Taron may have just begun.
