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Back in January, we reported that a biopic of Elton John was in the works. John himself is acting as an executive producer on the project, and is overseeing the development as Lee Hall (Billy Elliot) works on the screenplay. Details were scarce at the time, with John merely stating that the film will be more of a fantasy in the vein of Moulin Rouge! than your typical biopic. Well today we’ve got a few more details on the project. The film will cover John’s life from his days as a child piano prodigy to his life as a young man rebelling against his parents, parading in flamboyant costumes, and achieving fame with his collaboration with songwriter Bernie Taupin. Producer Stephen Hamilton Shaw described their approach to the project:

    “Rocketman will be a radically different kind of biopic. It will be as unique as Elton’s life, told in a non-linear and hyper-visual manner that will transport people through the many intense experiences, some wonderful, some not, that helped define Elton as an artist, musician and man.”

Hit the jump for more details.

elton-john-image-04Hall and John are far from strangers, as John wrote the music for Hall’s West End (and later Broadway) stage adaptation of Billy Elliot. Deadline reports that the biopic will include choreographed sequences using John’s songs incorporated into the film. I quite like the approach that John and Co. are taking to the film. John’s no Abraham Lincoln,  and I think a whimsical and slightly off-center approach is much more appropriate for John’s story than a straight drama. Currently, no director or star are attached, but filling those two roles will be the next step. John is producing the pic through his Rocket Pictures banner, which recently released Gnomeo & Juliet 3D.

It can't be any worse than Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, right?