Tom Hardy is Elton John.
Yes, you read that right.
Details have recently emerged from multiple outlets that the Inception/Dark Knight Rises star will be portraying the Grammy-award winning singer in his upcoming biopic Rocketman, to be directed by an upcoming director named Michael Gracey with a screenplay penned by Pride And Prejudice/War Horse scribe Lee Hall. The full announcement by Focus Pictures CEO Peter Schessel can be seen below:
“Tom is quickly becoming known as one of the world’s most versatile actors, and like others at the top of their craft, he has proven his ability to transform himself completely into the character or subject found in the material. We are confident that Tom will embody the physicality and spirit of Sir Elton.”
The first thing I am going to ask (and I believe this is pertinent) is this: what in God’s name do you think you are doing?
Don’t get me wrong: I absolutely love Tom Hardy. Fellow moviegoers will recognize him as Mr. Eames from Inception or as Bane from The Dark Knight Rises, but in his early career you will recognize him as Officer Twombly from Black Hawk Down, or as Captain Picard’s clone Shinzon in Star Trek Nemesis. I’ve always enjoyed seeing him in his many roles, and I also agree that he is a very talented, versatile actor.
That being said, I just don’t see it. Hardy is not a singer. He doesn’t look or embody the flamboyant type, and certainly not to the degree that Mr. John is. He is an action hero: he’s the guy with the big burly muscles, the tough guy you can look towards and know that he’ll get the job done. If those other film roles don’t convince you of that, look at his current filmography: he’s currently set to take over Mel Gibson’s role as Mad Max in Mad Max: Fury Road and as Sam Fisher in the currently developing Splinter Cell. He is surrounded (I’m sorry: buried) in action roles, so how will he have time or attention to be able to portray an iconic pop singer?
On that note, who the heck is Michael Gracey? According to iMDB, Michael Gracey worked as a visual effects artist on multiple low-budget films from 2001 to 2005, including a horror film called Cubbyhouse and a crime drama called The Magician. So, basically no one that anyone would know about right? So what the heck is he doing directing a movie about Elton John??? With a film property like that, you would expect to give it to someone a little more experienced with the genre, such as Taylor Hackford with Ray, or Rob Marshall with Chicago. Why Michael Gracey? Or for that matter, why Tom Hardy?
The more I think about it, the more frustrated and confused I become, but the reality is my opinion doesn’t matter. Do you know who’s does? Elton John himself, who is not only fully supportive of Tom Hardy casting decision: he’s fully supportive of the movie itself, not only serving as its executive producer but also as its composer, re-recording many of his classic hits to coincide with the film’s release.
I’m refuse to think about this anymore. I’m going to wait to see more media before I judge it any further. I’m just sayin’, I think its going to be a long, long time ‘til touch down brings me round again.
-David Dunn
SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter, The Verge
DAVID DUNN 