The musical stars Egerton as John and Madden as John Reid, his lover and first manager.
The real-life Reid didnt participate in the film, understandable considering the fraught demise of Reid and Johns relationship.
Instead, Madden spoke to people who knew and worked with him.
Gavin Bond/Paramount
What excited me so much about him was there were so many conflicting stories, says Madden.
Some people said he was the most terrifying man; hed fire anyone on the spot.
Then others said he was the most generous, lovely man the soul of the party.
David Appleby/Paramount
Connecting all these stories and then pulling out what elements I could in the script was really interesting.
Because whats an Elton John movie without a (tiny) dancer or two?
All the songs are incorporated in a really brilliant storytelling way.
Madden credits Fletcher for seamlessly transitioning from dramatic scene to extravagant musical moment.
Its not just,Oh, stop, heres a number.
Its an intimate thing between these two characters and a significant moment in Eltons life, he says.
And Eltons life was very R-rated, wasnt it?
