Rocketman producer Matthew Vaughn reveals that he’d like to make a sequel about Elton John. On May 22, Paramount Pictures released Rocketman in the United Kingdom, and premiered the musical biopic in the United States on May 31. Directed by Dexter Fletcher, Rocketman explores John’s personal and professional evolution during the ‘70s. Welsh actor Taron Egerton stars in the title role, with Richard Madden portraying the musician’s manager, John Reid. Rocketman also features Jamie Bell as John’s longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin, while Bryce Dallas Howard portrays the singer’s mother, Sheila Eileen.
Produced for $40 million, Rocketman has earned over $67 million at the box office and has unsurprisingly been compared to the 2018 film Bohemian Rhapsody, a rock biopic that the aforementioned Fletcher helmed upon the firing of Bryan Singer. Unlike the relatively tame Bohemian Rhapsody - a film about Queen frontman Freddie Mercury - Rocketman includes a sex scene that could negatively affect its box office return. Per the aforementioned Vaughn, "the best idea won, and the movie is what it is.”
Vaughn also discussed a possible Rocketman sequel with Screen Rant. According to the producer, the film’s mainstream success will determine the future: “If people buy tickets and the film’s a hit, that gives us more of a chance to get the band back together again. If it dies, then there isn’t.” Vaughn also noted the challenges of filmmaking, along with the beauty of the final payoff for Rocketman: “The thing about making movies is it’s hard, but when it works and when it’s with people that you get on with, it really makes a difference. There was a lot of mutual respect, a lot of very talented people pushing each other to make really good art.”
Vaughn’s producing career dates back to the 1996 thriller The Innocent Sleep and Guy Ritchie’s 1998 breakout hit Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. The English filmmaker is also an accomplished director, as he’s helmed blockbusters like Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class, and both Kingsman films. While speaking with Screen Rant, Vaughn also revealed that he’s interested in collaborating with Marvel for a new Fantastic Four reboot. In 2015, Vaughn produced 20th Century Fox’s Fantastic Four, a film that was largely panned.
As for a possible Rocketman sequel, there’s plenty of territory to explore. To date, the 72-year-old John has released 30 studio albums and won numerous prestigious awards. But John's legacy extends far beyond record sales and accolades, as he’s raised awareness about LGBTQ issues since coming out in the late ‘80s. In 2018, John began a three-year farewell tour, and that retrospective premise alone would make for an interesting story that explores the singer's biggest moments throughout the years, post-Rocketman.