Tom Hardy has admitted he is struggling with one aspect of playing Elton John in a forthcoming biopic – the singing.

The Mad Max: Fury Road actor is set to star as the piano-playing icon in Rocketman, a film billed as “a larger-than-life movie musical spectacle that tells the story of a child prodigy turned music legend”. Billy Elliot writer Lee Hall has penned the script, with up-and-coming director Michael Gracey behind the camera.

Asked about the project by The Sun, Hardy replied: “I’m not a singer. I have no idea really. I’m really trying because of Rocketman but it’s hard to open my mouth in that way.”


Admitting the role will take him out of his comfort zone, Hardy added: “I’m not really drawn towards singing and musicals and that stuff. I did some rap when I was a kid but I’m somebody’s dad now so it wouldn’t be too cool to crack that out!”

Rocketman is being made by Elton John’s film company Rocket Pictures, whose biggest hit to date is 2011’s Gnomeo & Juliet, a computer-animated children’s film that grossed over $190 million (£125 million) worldwide. The singer will serve as an executive producer on the biopic and is planning to “re-record many of his iconic hits to parallel the emotional beats of the film”.