Elton John's cameo in Kingsman: The Golden Circle may be the weirdest part of the super spy sequel, which considering it's also a movie where Colin Firth is brought back to life after a bullet to the eye says a lot. Let's look at how he came to be involved, what he was like on set, and whether it works.It was known from early on that the singer would have some role in the film care of a teaser poster, but few could have expected the resulting cameo to be as substantial as it was. In the movie, Elton John is captured by Julianne Moore's Poppy, a drug kingpin striving to be a legitimate businesswoman, and held hostage in her 1950s hideout paradise. The main reason for this in-story is her opportunism - as Valentine, the villain of the first film, had kidnapped so many celebrities, the soft-spoken, meat-tenderizing psychopath decided it would be rude not to - and it appears that Elton is primarily used for her entertainment, dressed up in versions of his classic costumes and forced to play his classics.
Related: Kingsman: The Golden Circle Review
But there's more to it than that. This is a substantial cameo to the point John is basically a supporting play. And it's something that's several years (and two movies) in the making. The cast of Kingsman, director Matthew Vaughn and John himself have discussed how this came about and what it really means, so today let's take a deeper look.
Elton John Was Meant To Be In The First Kingsman
This isn't the first time that Elton John has been linked to Kingsman. During the pre-production of The Secret Service, a whole host of noteworthy celebrities, including David Beckham and Adele, were rumored to have cameos. This is likely due to the essential part A-listers play in the plot - they're kidnapped by the villain - and as such whether these names were actually approached or this was just speculation based on a quick glance at Mark Millar's graphic novel is unknown. Elton John got lumped in with this rampant speculation, with it reported by tabloids he was offered a part that involved an action scene.
We now know that, in terms of Rocket Man himself, this is totally true; he was offered a part and turned it down (likely due to the film's audacious approach and unproven quality), something he regretted when he saw the quality of the finished product. Speaking at the world premiere, Elton had this to say:
"I was supposed to be in the last one, but I turned it down and then I saw it and I thought "I wish I'd have been in it" So they asked me to be in this one - Matthew said to be in this one - and I jumped at the chance. I'm so thrilled to be in it."
Whatever the plan was, it sounds like the part was essential; when the offer was rejected, Colin Firth actually wrote to John begging him to be in the film, knowing just how much Matthew Vaughn wanted the singer.
What role he'd have played initially is unclear. It may have been related to Mark Hamill's cameo, which differs slightly from Millar's take (in the comic the real Hamill is killed at the start, whereas in the film the actor plays a scientist working for Valentine), although the graphic novel grounding does make that seem unlikely. It's possible that, given he was linked to an action scene, it was a similar setup to his eventual part in The Golden Circle - a captured celebrity who winds up helping the heroes in the finale.
Regardless, the upshot of all this is that when Elton was offered the part again, he said yes almost immediately.
Why Was Elton John Important?
There's a lot of reasons to fit Elton John into Kingsman. For one, due to the celebrity-stealing scheme, it's an integral part of the word. And given that Matthew Vaughn is trying to capture the feel of movies he loved growing up with this series, it makes sense as a way to work in one or two of the legends' back catalogue (as well as "Wednesday Nights", "Jack Rabbit" plays over the credits).
Beyond that, though, there's a more metatextual reason for using him in Kingsman. This is a franchise that straddles a line between serious and pastiche - it's both at once yet never fully either. Having someone with such a loaded, clearly defined yet sprawling public persona appear as himself is totally fitting; as Vaughn said at The Golden Circle premiere, "he's a serious man that doesn't take himself seriously which actually sums up Kingsman."
But it's particularly fitting of The Golden Circle given its cultural touchstones. Unlike a lot of other films that hone in on the 1980s for nostalgic references - see most of Marvel's output and the recent Stephen King resurgence - Kingsman 2 is more about the 1950s. Or, rather, the 1950s as viewed through the 1970s; Poppy cites Grease and American Graffiti as inspirations. It's a representation of references within references, a pastiche in its own way of how culture repeats and obsesses.
When we interviewed Julianne Moore about Poppy, we talked about that aesthetic and how it tied into the decision to kidnap someone with the specific qualities of Elton John:
"I even like the fact the person she captures is Elton John. The Elton John she wants is the Elton John from the 1970s. You know, from that era with the crazy costumes and the big shoes and the specificity of it was important to me."
What Elton John Was Like Behind-the-Scenes
Across several conversations, those involved with the part have also shared their take on the whole thing. Elton himself was frank about nerves - he's not done much in the way of big screen performing - and complimented all those involved for making it an enjoyable experience at the world premiere:
"I was lucky enough to work my scenes with Colin and Julianne Moore, and they were so great and fabulous to work with and made me feel at home because I was very nervous. And the crew on the set were fantastic, and so was the director. They made me feel at home and it was like I was working with a family."
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Many of those who worked with him have described it as a "dream come true", with Vaughn also saying "He was pure professional, natural and lovely." Moore made a particular point of saying he was always game and happy to oh-so heavily send himself up, saying "He took it all so lightly. He was easy about sending himself up and wearing those crazy things, and was so generous on set. Really generous." All in all, a good experience.
Does The Elton John Cameo Work?
However, the ultimate question is whether this all works. Does the weight make so a layered cameo or just stretch believability?
In truth, it depends on how you take the film. In the movie, Elton John is... well he's Elton John. The actor said of playing himself, "It's very easy. That's all I can say." And, yeah, John's performance is as basic as you'd expect from a non-actor - almost himself but a bit stilted. It's fine enough but still distracting. He works best in the more overtly comedic moments that require him just looking like Elton John (circa 1974) or action (which he was obviously doubled for). Still, overall it adds pep to a prequel that's otherwise got a rather mixed reaction.
All things said, it's done with more purpose and affection than 2017's other mega music-star cameo in a major blockbuster - just be thankful it's not Paul McCartney in Pirates of the Caribbean 5.
