First trailer for Baz Luhrmann's Elvis Presley biopic is out
Elvis Presley is someone who redefined music and sent big waves across the world with his iconic sound and style. Known as the King of Rock and Roll, Presley may have left the world in 1977 but his music lives on almost half a century later. The desire to talk about his life in a biopic had been longstanding and Oscar-nominated Australian director Baz Luhrmann is finally putting the plan into action — the trailer is here and it promises to be nothing short of epic.
"The film explores the life and music of Elvis Presley (Austin Butler), seen through the prism of his complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks). The story delves into the complex dynamic between Presley and Parker spanning over 20 years, from Presley’s rise to fame to his unprecedented stardom, against the backdrop of the evolving cultural landscape and loss of innocence in America. Central to that journey is one of the most significant and influential people in Elvis’s life, Priscilla Presley (Olivia DeJonge)," read the trailer's caption.
The trailer features moments from different points in Presley's life, taking the viewer through the journey of how a little boy got into music, his first performance that had the crowd going wild and his rise to stardom. It also includes the issues he faced, highlighting the political atmosphere in those times.
There is great focus on Presley and his manager Parker's relationship, who's said to have influenced many decisions in his life, including his marriage to Priscilla (vouching for good publicity) and the icon's transition to Hollywood.
The casting choice was a tough ride itself — after a competitive contest, 30-year-old actor Butler was cast as Presley. Ansel Elgort, Harry Styles and Miles Teller all reportedly tested for the role ultimately won by the Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood actor, who appeared in the Denzel Washington Broadway revival of The Iceman Cometh in 2018.
Luhrmann said in a statement that 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 trailer shows that the film emulates the spirit quite well — from Butler's countenance and the way he carries himself to his voice and dressing style. Oscar-winner Catherine Martin, also Luhrmann's spouse, is in charge of the costumes. She's worked with the director on Moulin Rouge! and The Great Gatsby and will lend her magic touch to the costumes and sets for her husband’s Elvis biopic.
Other than Butler, Hanks and DeJonge, the cast also includes Kodi Smit-McPhee, David Wenham, Dacre Montgomery, Luke Bracey, Richard Roxburgh, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Xavier Samuel.
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