Filmmaker Dexter Fletcher came very close to giving Rami Malek's Freddie Mercury a cameo in Elton John's biopic 'Rocketman'.
'Bohemian Rhapsody' and 'Rocketman' have many overlapping common elements, connecting the two films. Fletcher, who directed the former film after the original director Bryan Singer was fired halfway through the process, helmed 'Rocketman' in its entirety.
Another point of commonality is that both films used their subjects' music as the soul of the stories and feature LGBTQ protagonists.
But most significantly, the two films feature John Reid, a real-life character who managed both Queen and Elton John at the peak of their careers.
Flirting with this very common string, Fletcher thought of adding Freddie Mercury's special appearance in John's biopic.
"There was an idea I had (at) one point, where Elton's in a restaurant with his mother. I thought John Reid and Freddie could be at another table and they wave at each other!" Entertainment weekly quoted Fletcher's interview with Gay Star News.
However, he finally decided against it. "That would have been amazing, (but) it didn't come to pass. It would've been a little too knowing. I'm not looking to set out to make a cinematic universe," the filmmaker asserted.
'Bohemian Rhapsody', which hit the theatres last year, is a biopic based on the life of Freddie Mercury, who in the film is played by Rami Malek. The film, after a massive success on box office, successfully ended collecting a couple of Oscars.
On the other hand, the Taron Egerton starrer film, which is scheduled to release on May 31, follows John's journey starting from a young piano prodigy named Reginald Dwight to a rockstar struggling with addiction who finally finds his way to sobriety.
The biopic will release on May 31.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
