Jeff Spicer/Jeff Spicer/Getty ImagesIf you’re going to have a movie about Elton John’s rise to fame, Bernie Taupin, his songwriting partner of 50 years, has to be a part of it. Now comes word that the filmmakers have someone in mind to portray the master lyricist in the upcoming Elton biopic Rocketman.
Variety reports that British actor Jamie Bell, perhaps best known for starring in the movie Billy Elliot, is in negotiations to play Taupin in the movie, which stars Taron Egerton as Elton.
It’s not surprising that Bell would be involved in the project, considering the script was written by Lee Hall. Hall not only wrote Billy Elliot the movie, but he also collaborated with Elton on Billy Elliot The Musical.
Bell was most recently seen as Abraham Woodhull in the AMC series Turn: Washington’s Spies, and in the 2017 movie Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool. He’s also appeared in the movies King Kong, Snowpiercer and Fantastic Four.
Meanwhile, Taron Egerton has posted the first on-set image from the movie on Twitter. The photo is of a shadow that’s being cast on the ground that shows a figure sporting a pair of huge wings.
As previously reported, Rocketman, directed by Dexter Fletcher, will arrive in theaters May 17, 2019.
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