“How does a fat boy from nowhere get to be a song man?” The first trailer for Dexter Fletcher’s Elton John biopic “Rocketman” hit on Thursday, and teased the celebrated music star’s life story.
Taron Egerton plays John, who changed his name from the decidedly grandfatherly Reginald Dwight and took the advice to “Buy yourself something flashy.”
Jamie Bell co-stars as Elton’s longtime lyricist and writing partner Bernie Taupin, Richard Madden as Elton’s first manager, John Reid, and Bryce Dallas Howard as Elton’s mother Sheila Farebrother.
Paramount describes the movie as an epic musical fantasy telling the incredible human story of Elton John’s breakthrough years.
The film, scripted by Lee Hall, 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 Egerton — tells the universally relatable story of how a small-town boy became one of the most iconic figures in pop culture.
Matthew Vaughn, David Furnish, Adam Bohling, David Reid produced. Elton John, Steve Hamilton Shaw, Michael Gracey, Claudia Schiffer and Brian Oliver executive produced.
“Rocketman” hits theaters on May 31.
Watch the trailer above.