-

With Rocketman opening in theaters this weekend, I recently sat down with director Dexter Fletcher to talk about making the fantasy musical based on the life of Elton John. As most of you know from the trailers, Rocketman isn’t your convention biopic. Yes, you’ll see how John (Taron Egerton) and his writing partner Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell) came up with some of their iconic songs, and the film does include a few of the tropes you see in all movies based on someone’s life. But Rocketman also stages these elaborate musical sequences set to John’s most beloved songs that exist in their own reality. For more on the film, you can read Greg Ellwood’s review from Cannes. Rocketman also stars Richard Madden as Elton’s first manager, John Reid, and Bryce Dallas Howard as Elton’s mother Sheila Farebrother.

rocketman-poster

During my interview with Dexter Fletcher he talked about the toughest sequences to put together in the editing room, how his first cut compared to the finished film, why he cut out the “sushi scene”, how he only finished the film a few days before the Cannes world premiere, and more.

Check out what he had to say in the player above and below is exactly what we talked about.

Dexter Fletcher:

  • When did he finish the film?
  • What were the toughest sequences to put together in the editing room?
  • How long was his first cut compared to the finished film?
  • What were the last few sequences he removed from the film?

Here is the official synopsis for Rocketman:

ROCKETMAN is an epic musical fantasy about the incredible human story of Elton John’s breakthrough years. The film follows the fantastical journey of transformation from shy piano prodigy Reginald Dwight into international superstar Elton John. This inspirational story – set to Elton John’s most beloved songs and performed by star Taron Egerton – tells the universally relatable story of how a small-town boy became one of the most iconic figures in pop culture.

rocketman-elton-john-taron-egerton-images
Image via Paramount Pictures
rocketman-taron-egerton-elton-john
Image via Paramount Pictures
rocketman-elton-john-taron-egerton-images
Image via Paramount Pictures