Elvis Presley Will Be Played By Austin Butler in Baz Luhrmann’s Upcoming Biopic
A week ago we learned that Ansel Elgort (Baby Driver), Miles Teller (Top Gun: Maverick), Austin Butler (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) and Harry Styles (Dunkirk) were all being considered for the role of Elvis Presley in director Baz Luhrmann’s biopic on the King of Rock and Roll.
Well, after going through several screen tests, the job of playing The King has gone to Austin Butler. I think he was the least expected choice out of the bunch, but obviously the director saw more of Elvis in him than any of the other actors. I’m not really familiar with anything that he’s done, but it will be interesting to see how Elvis will be brought to life in this movie.
The director had this to say in a statement:
“I knew I couldn’t make this film if the casting wasn’t absolutely right, and we searched thoroughly for an actor with the ability to evoke the singular natural movement and vocal qualities of this peerless star, but also the inner vulnerability of the artist. Throughout the casting process, it was an honor for me to encounter such a vast array of talent. I had heard about Austin Butler from his stand-out role opposite Denzel Washington in ‘The Iceman Cometh’ on Broadway, and through a journey of extensive screen testing and music and performance workshops, I knew unequivocally that I had found someone who could embody the spirit of one of the world’s most iconic musical figures.”
The story for the film covers the “relationship between the veteran manager and the young singer, who came from dirt-poor origins to become an iconic star who changed the course of music. Parker was reputed to have taken half of Presley’s earnings for himself, in exchange for building him.”
Parker is the guy who discovered Presley when he was just an unknown musician. He ended up being his lone representation and was responsible for various milestones, including Presley’s record deal with RCA and his successful acting career.
The film is scheduled to start shooting in 2020 after Hanks is finished shooting News of the World from director Paul Greengrass.
Source: Variety