Years before sequins, platform boots, and stadium-sized singalongs defined the 2019 hit Rocketman, Sir Elton John’s life story was headed toward a very different cinematic fate. In 2013, Hollywood confirmed that Tom Hardy—best known at the time for intense, brooding roles—had officially signed on to portray Elton John. The announcement sparked immediate intrigue, but the version of Rocketman Hardy was preparing for would never leave the launchpad.
This abandoned project envisioned Elton’s story not as a celebratory musical, but as a darker, surreal character study. Directed by Michael Gracey, the early script leaned heavily into addiction, emotional volatility, and psychological fragmentation. Music was central—but controversially, Hardy would not sing. Instead, the plan was for him to lip-sync to Elton John’s original recordings, preserving the “untouchable” authenticity of Elton’s voice.
Hardy was frank about his limitations. In interviews at the time, he openly admitted that singing was outside his skill set. While his physical transformation for the role was underway, the creative gamble rested on the belief that acting intensity could compensate for musical absence. For many involved, that compromise quickly became the project’s greatest liability.
Behind the scenes, Rocketman entered what Hollywood politely calls “development hell.” The screenplay by Lee Hall—also known for Billy Elliot—was praised for its ambition but criticized for being commercially risky. Financiers reportedly grew uneasy with the bleak tone, fearing it would alienate mainstream audiences expecting a more uplifting tribute.
At the same time, the industry itself was changing. The success of Les Misérables (2012), which featured actors singing live on set, reshaped audience expectations. Musical authenticity suddenly meant live vocals, emotional imperfection, and immersion. Against that backdrop, a lip-syncing biopic began to feel outdated before cameras ever rolled.
The disconnect between Hardy’s gravelly voice and Elton’s flamboyant tenor only deepened the uncertainty. Despite backing from Rocket Pictures, the project stalled between 2013 and 2016, eventually collapsing under the weight of creative disagreement.
The revival came with a new vision. Director Dexter Fletcher, fresh off his involvement in Bohemian Rhapsody, insisted on a lead who could fully embody Elton—vocals included. Enter Taron Egerton, whose singing performance would become the soul of Rocketman. Recording every song himself, Egerton delivered a fantasy musical that finally aligned with Elton John’s own vision.
The Hardy-led Rocketman remains one of cinema’s most fascinating “what-ifs.” Yet grounding that version ultimately allowed the world to experience a film Elton John himself called “exactly how I wanted it to be”—proof that sometimes, a failed launch leads to a perfect landing.