The Elton John biopic “Rocketman” opens this weeken with Taron Egerton playing Elton. But it turns out, Taron wasn’t the first choice for the role. It seems Justin Timberlake was actually the first person Elton and husband DavidFurnish were interested in, after being impressed with Justin’s appearance in Elton’s 2001 video, “This Train Don't Stop There Anymore,” although it never went very far.
“But we never formerly approached Justin because we weren't ever at a stage where it was the right time to approach him,” Furnish, a producer on the film tells the “Hollywood Reporter.” “But he did an amazing job in the video. He put on a prosthetic nose, and it turned out to have been some really interesting acting work as well.”
But it certainly sounds like Elton is pretty happy with Taron in the role. He told Cannes recently, “His performance in this film is scary brilliant. … When I watch the movie, I don’t see an actor, I see myself.”
Source: Hollywood Reporter