Elvis star Austin Butler has a ringing endorsement for his performance as the King of Rock ’n Roll from his ex-wife herself, Priscilla Presley. Ahead of the premiere of Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming biopic, Presley was given a special screening of the film, which details the rise of Elvis along with his relationship with Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks). The film will have its world premiere at Cannes before hitting theaters in June, and it’s already scoring some early Oscar buzz.
After a private screening of the film alongside family friend Jerry Schilling, Presley took to social media to share her thoughts. She praises the way Luhrmann brought this story to life in a “brilliant” way that only he could have. Presley also notes how difficult it must have been for Butler to play such a well-known legend, but even so, she was left blown away by his performance. Additionally, Presley goes on to praise Hanks while noting how the film does a great job of telling the true story, something she can attest to as someone who knew Elvis and Colonel Parker. As Presley explains on Twitter:
Elvis Stars Austin Butler as the Legendary Singer
Warner Bros. Pictures
Baz Luhrmann directed Elvis using a screenplay co-written by Luhrmann, Sam Bromell, Craig Pearce, and Jeremy Doner. Along with Austin Butler as Elvis Presley and Tom Hanks as Tom Parker, the film features Olivia DeJonge as Priscilla Presley and Luke Bracey as Jerry Schilling. The film also stars Helen Thomson, Richard Roxburgh, Natasha Bassett, David Wenham, and Kodi Smit-McPhee.
At CinemaCon, Luhrmann teased what fans can expect from the biopic. The goal is to tell the story of the iconic singer, who broke onto the scene in the 1950s, in a way that today’s generation will appreciate. Luhrmann almost feels that Elvis has a lot in common with superhero movies, as, in many ways, Presley was a real-life superhero. As the director said:
Elvis will be released in theaters on June 24, 2022.
