Rocketman Director Dexter Fletcher Talks Elton John, Songs and More

Dexter Fletcher is bringing to life the love and music of Elton John’s past. While he helped to finish Bohemian Rhapsody after Bryan Singer was fired, he believes that Bohemian Rhapsody is not his movie and not the story he wanted to tell, a humble response that already made me respect him and his work. With Rocketman, Fletcher tells the story of Elton John through a fantastical look at his songs and by taking a few liberties with the story. As he pointed out in a Q&A at the Dolby event in Soho, it is almost impossible to make a perfect biopic with every detail correct.

At the event, fans can experience a look into the movie with photo opportunities that include a visit the Troubadour! (Well not really, it’s a fake version of the Troubadour but you get the idea.)

 

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i had the most fun at the rocketman exhibit today and getting to talk with the film’s director, dexter fletcher. i will say, i mentioned how i wished “someone saved my life tonight” was in the movie (my favorite elton song) and needed to hear taron sing it and he said “just ask him, it’s also one of his” #rocketman

A post shared by Rachel Leishman (@rachel_leishman) on May 29, 2019 at 11:43am PDT

At the Q&A session, journalists could only ask questions of the director if we started by listing our favorite Elton John song, which came in handy since my favorite was part of my question. With a catalog as vast as Elton John’s, it’s hard to include all the classics. But for me, a song like “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” would have fit perfectly into the story, and while my question was about what Fletcher’s dream song to direct would have been, he went on to tell us about that particular song.

For those unaware, there were two suicide attempts that the film originally depicted but, to Fletcher, the one set with “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” came off as too comical for the film and he didn’t feel as if it gave off the right message. While we didn’t see the version in the film, that means there has to be a recording of Taron Egerton singing the song somewhere, right?

Q: Was there a song of Elton’s that you wish was part of the film that never made the cut? @TaronEgerton @EW #Rocketman
– @fluffypillowlip

A: pic.twitter.com/t5wbUCiBBW

— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) May 28, 2019

Fletcher made a masterpiece and Rocketman is the movie I wanted it to be and so much more. But can Dexter Fletcher help me get Taron Egerton singing “Someone Saved My Life Tonight”? I need it in my life like….yesterday. So, help a girl out?

(image: Paramount Pictures)

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