Elton John Biopic ‘Rocketman’ Hires Director Michael Gracey
A biopic of Elton John entitled Rocketman, which is being written by Billy Elliot’s Lee Hall, now has a director.
Michael Gracey, who is best known for directing a host of American TV adverts, as well as the Jim Henson biopic, The Muppet Man, has been placed in charged of the musical film.
Rocketman is set to follow John’s progress from childhood piano prodigy to becoming one of the biggest popstars on the planet.
Gracey told Deadline,“Everyone knows and loves Elton John’s music, but the true story of his life is so incredible that it can only be described as fantasy.”
The filmmaker then added, “His journey from impossible dreamer to stardom and uncontrollable excess is something only a musical film can capture, and I’m so excited to be the one to tell his story.”
Elton John’s own film production company, Rocket Pictures, will shoot Rocketman. Previously they have produced 2011’s Gnomeo Juliet, which went on to gross close to $200 million at the global box office.
John is set to serve as the executive producer on the film too. The search is now on to find both an child and adult Elton for the film.
In the past the singer has announced his intention for Justin Timberlake to play him. When asked by the LA Times last years he stated, “I don’t know. I’ve got a wish list of people. Number one on my wish list is Justin Timberlake, because he played me before in a David LaChapelle video of Rocket Man and was superb.”
Timberlake has of course, recently starred in 2010’s The Social Network, and will next be seen in the Coen Brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis.
Who do you think should play Elton John? Do you think that a musical biopic of the singer will be worth watching?
