Upcoming Elvis Presley Movie Finally Casts Its Lead After Extensive Search
MusicBeat5 / Twitter, Baz Luhrmann / Twitter
For some time now, Baz Luhrmann has been searching for his Elvis Presley for an upcoming movie.
Luhrmann is directing the film, which will follow Presley from his humble beginnings to an international icon, as well as his complex relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Pretty early on, it was announced that Tom Hanks would play Parker, but the search for the perfect Presley was extensive.
Many famous names were up for the role including Harry Styles, Ansel Elgort, Austin Butler, and Miles Teller, but only one man was deemed right for the job. That man is Austin Butler. Luhrmann confirmed the casting with a simple tweet, posting a photo of Presley and Butler side by side.
Luhrmann announced the project, which is set to film next year in Queensland, Australia, back in April saying, “I know I haven’t been active on here because I’ve had my head down, researching and exploring and absorbing the world around me. But now, because you’ve always supported us and the work, I want to invite you along on this next creative journey. Stay tuned…“
Butler made his Broadway debut in 2018 opposite Denzel Washington in The Iceman Cometh, will appear in the Quentin Tarantino film Once Upon a Time In Hollywood, and can currently be seen in the film The Dead Don’t Die.
If Butler’s resume doesn’t sell you that he has the chops to play Presley, just trust Luhrmann.
“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,” the director told Deadline. “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.”
A release date has yet to be announced.
