The real reason Tom Hardy was replaced in Rocketman

Rocketman, the movie chronicling Elton John's tumultuous rise to fame, premiered to rave reviews in May 2019. The musical biopic genre can feel a bit played out — pun intended — but Rocketman breathes new life into what could have been a cliched narrative. It's clearly John's story the way he wanted it to be told, no holds barred.

Taron Egerton, whose portrayal of John earned Oscar buzz from critics, played the part so well that it's hard to believe he wasn't the first choice for the role. Initially, Tom Hardy was slated to play the musical icon — he was attached to the project as early as 2013. Although there's no denying Hardy's talent as an actor, Egerton ended up playing John on the big screen. Why did the producers pivot from an Academy Award-nominated actor like Hardy to Egerton, who didn't have nearly as much experience under his belt? Here's how Taron Egerton unexpectedly ended up playing his musical hero Elton John.