Disney’s Elton John documentary Never Too Late charts singer’s struggle with success
‘It brought back the struggle I had with success’, and how ‘it’s never too late to change,’ singer says of Disney+ documentary
Capturing Sir Elton John’s 50-year career is a Herculean task. Good thing his husband David Furnish and filmmaker R.J. Cutler were up to the challenge.
Elton John: Never Too Late was inspired by John’s final US tour in 2022 – but quickly became a celebration of his life and work. It is filled with insight into his music, relationships – including a fiery friendship with John Lennon – troublesome childhood and addiction. It is book ended by mythmaking performances at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium in 1975 and 2022.
For fans – and even John himself – it is revelatory viewing.
“I was struck by how good the music was in those first five years, because I very rarely listened to my music. I was very proud of that,” John says. “And also, it brought back the incredible struggle that I had with success, having no foundation underneath it. I turned to alcohol, drugs and then had redemption by getting sober.”
Success and satisfaction are not the same, a fact that is quickly established in the film. John had fame, but hungered for connection. Having a family changed him.
