Taron Egerton charms crowd at Sydney premiere of Rocketman

Taron Egerton, best known to Australian audiences for his star turn in The Kingsman film franchise, was all charm on the red carpet for the Sydney premiere of his new movie Rocketman, a musical bio-pic about superstar Elton John.

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Cannes, London, Seoul, Sydney.

Paramount’s Rocketman global promo tour rolled into its fourth major city in a week tonight bringing Elton John fanatics flocking to the State Theatre to glimpse the man who plays the rock diva in the much-hyped new musical bio-pic, actor Taron Egerton, and the film’s acclaimed director, Dexter Spencer.

Egerton, best known to Australian audiences for his star turn in The Kingsman film franchise, was all charm on the red carpet as he greeted fans and chatted with media to talk up the role that international critics say will establish the little known actor as a major star.

Taron Egerton with fans on the red carpet of the Sydney premiere of Rocketman. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Egerton sings 26 songs in the film after director Spencer decided the movie should be a fantastic departure from traditional biopics — a move that stands in stark contrast to Rami Malek’s Oscar-winning performance as Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, a role which required him to mime the tracks.

Spencer is the British actor/director who salvaged Bohemian Rhapsody after director Bryan Singer left the project midway through production.

Taron Egerton as Elton John in Rocketman. Picture: David Appleby/Paramount Pictures

Like Egerton, Spencer’s professional reputation as a director is riding on Rocket man after the film was knocked back by multiple movie studios fearing it was too expensive and gay, rather like the man it immortalises.

Missing from the red carpet in Market Street was the John who, at 72, has wound down his touring schedule but will visit Australia later this year for his three-month farewell concert tour.

The film tells the story of a the young Reginald Dwight transforming into Elton John, coming out to his family, and succumbing to his various addictions.

While some critics are tipping the movie will top Bohemian Rhapsody at the box office and better it at the Oscars in 2020, others have slammed it for being a watered-down version of John’s extreme R-Rated life.

While a smattering of Sydney celebrities were in attendance, film director Phil Noyce, music promoter Michael Chugg, radio’s Brendan Jones, actors Luke Jacobs and George Mason, contestants from The Voice, the excitement came from John’s loyal Australian fan base —

many of them dressed in madcap spectacles and feathers for the premiere.

Egerton chats to fan Daniel Weaver on the red carpet of the premiere. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Taron Egerton and Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher in Sydney. Picture: David Swift

John’s affinity for Aussies was not lost on the film’s Scottish star Taron Egerton.

“You are our cousins. (You are) irreverent… full of joy … I love that you don’t take yourselves too seriously,” he said to a delighted crowd, addressing them to cheers from the State Theatre stage before the film rolled.

“I love how naughty you guys are … This (film) is not some sanitised version.”

Among Australians he loves best is actor Hugh Jackman, with whom he starred in Eddie The Eagle.

“In the interests of full disclosure, when I take my kit off (in the film), I don’t look like Hugh Jackman,” Egerton said, playing the room for laughs before taking a seat and viewing the film with his new “cousins”.

Spencer, looking weary -after flying in 24 hours earlier and catching no sleep on his first trip to Australia, acknowledged Egerton’s talent in the movie.

“The level of commitment with which he throws himself into the film is astonishing,” Spencer said.

“I’m fiercely proud of it. It’s I think the culmination of a lot of hard work.”

It is Egerton’s fourth visit to Australia.