Elton John biopic 'Rocketman' to premiere at Cannes

New York — The Elton John biopic Rocketman will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival next month.

Rocketman will screen on 16 May at the French Riviera festival, two weeks before it's to be released in the United States. Paramount Pictures on Tuesday confirmed the premiere, which Variety first reported.

The film stars Taron Egerton as the British singer and pianist. It's directed by Dexter Fletcher, who stepped in to helm the Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody after Bryan Singer was fired. Rocketman is more of a musical-biopic hybrid. John is himself a producer on the movie.

The 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival runs from 14 to 25 May. Its full slate is to be announced on Thursday. As previously announced, Jim Jarmusch’s zombie comedy The Dead Don’t Die will open the festival.