Richard is rocking
Bodyguard star to play Elton John’s ex-lover
Bodyguard leading man Richard Madden has landed a new role - playing Elton John’s real-life Paisley lover.
Elderslie man Richard, who trained at Paisley’s Pace youth theatre, was hired by the Your Song singer to take on the role of Buddie John Reid.
He will star in biopic Rocketman, due for release next year, and was cast after Elton and partner David Furnish pursued him for the part.
“Next up I’m shooting Rocketman, the film about Elton John’s life, which is a different adventure altogether,” said Richard.
A Rocketman source said: ““Elton and David have been aware of Richard’s talent for some time and really wanted him for the role. They think he is going to be utterly believable as John Reid.”
Bodyguard, which sees Richard play Principal Protection Officer David Budd alongside Keeley Hawes as Home Secretary Julia Montague, concludes tomorrow night from 9pm to 10.15pm on BBC One.
He’s become the nation’s leading male TV heartthrob in his role as brooding David Budd in Bodyguard.
Now Richard Madden, from Elderslie, has got Sir Elton John’s pulse racing by playing the singer’s former lover – Buddie John Reid.
Sir Elton and husband David Furnish are said to be “ecstatic” after convincing Madden, 32, to follow up his Bodyguard love scenes with Keeley Hawes’ Home Secretary in the BBC1 thriller with an even more “challenging” role.
The real-life couple hired Madden to play Scots music mogul and Sir Elton’s ex-boyfriend John Reid in the upcoming biopic Rocketman.
Last night, an insider at the new movie said : “Elton and David have been aware of Richard’s talent for some time and really wanted him for the role. They think he is going to be utterly believable as John Reid and he embodies him perfectly, from his looks to the Scottish accent.
“It’s going to be very different seeing him as Elton’s manager and ex-partner.
“The decision to cast him was made before the BBC’s Bodyguard took off and they were really impressed with his professionalism.
“Obviously, they’re ecstatic because Richard has become hot property and everyone wants him for their films and TV projects. His looks won’t have been lost on them either, but he’s been hired for his talent as an actor.”
He added: “He’ll play John Reid, who Elton had a long-term relationship with at the start of his career and who was also Elton’s manager early on.”
Madden admits playing Elton’s ex-lover and manager will be “a different adventure” to his current Bodyguard role.
He said: “This is one of my most challenging roles, mentally and physically, as it was relentless throughout filming. Next up I’m shooting Rocketman, the film about Elton John’s life, which is a different adventure altogether.”
Like Madden, music mogul Reid was born and raised in Renfrewshire.
Both men initially struggled to make ends meet before finding success in London.
While Madden tread the boards in cult theatre productions, Reid found his calling managing Billy Connolly and rock acts including Queen.
Reid and Elton became live-in lovers for five years not long after they met.
Reid helmed the singer’s career until 1998, taking a 20 per cent cut of the singer’s earnings, estimated to be worth £73 million.
But the pair fell out spectacularly over missing millions and a leaked letter that revealed Sir Elton’s extravagant spending. They settled a case out of court and haven’t spoken in 20 years.
Tom Hardy was initially slated to play Sir Elton in Rocketman, but Taron Egerton, who has previously starred in Eddie The Eagle and the Kingsman films, has since taken up the role.
Sir Elton’s songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin, is played by Billy Elliot star Jamie Bell.
The film will concentrate on the singer’s time as a struggling musician at the Royal Academy of Music and his initial rise to fame.
Rocketman, originally due out earlier this year, will have its release date pushed back to May 31, 2019.