Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, hello Hollywood! James McAvoy set to play Elton John in new film biopic

By Kirsty Mccormack

Last updated at 7:05 PM on 22nd September 2011

Rocketman will no longer just be a song remembered by Elton John fans, as the singer has revealed he will be turning his life into a Hollywood film with the same title.

Actor James McAvoy is tipped to land the part of the singer who was named recently as the top earning British entertainer in the world.

Sir Elton, 64 and his partner David Furnish, 48, have teamed up with "Billy Elliot" writer Lee Hall to create the film.

Working couple: Sir Elton John and David Furnish, pictured here at Tony Bennett's 85th birthday gala on September 18, will work on the film project together

John will act as an executive producer on the film which charts his rise to fame and fortune.

It is rumoured that several actors could in fact play the lead role in a similar move to his music video for the single This Train Don't Stop There Anymore in 2002.

Producer Steve Hamilton Shaw said the biopic will help define Elton as 'an artist, musician and man.'

Lead role: James McAvoy is rumoured to be playing the singer in a film about is life entitled: Rocketman

Producer Steve Hamilton Shaw said the biopic will help define Elton as 'an artist, musician and man.'

Shaw has promised that the film will be 'as unique as Elton's life,' and will 'transport people through the many intense experiences that helped define Elton.'

He said they will use Elton's songs to convey parts of his life, such as his marriage and his admitted drug abuse.

Successful duo: Elton John will work with writer, Lee Hall with whom he collaborated with on Billy Elliot: The Musical, to make the biopic about his life

Many of the star's hit such as Candle In The Wind and Rocket Man will feature in the film.

The project marks the second collaboration for John and playwright, Hall.

When Hall adapted the 2000 film Billy Elliot for the West End theatre John wrote the score for a production that later moved to Broadway where he won numerous awards.

Past and present: Rocketman will 'transport people through the many intense experiences that helped define Elton John' according to Steve Hamilton Shaw

Rocketman becomes the second big-screen biopic of an iconic rock singer penned by an A-list writer.

GK Films are currently working on the Peter Morgan-scripted film about Queen front man Freddie Mercury, with Sacha Baron Cohen set to play the late singer.