- Film And TV
- 16 Jul 19
It is now confirmed that the actor has been casted to play the rock'n'roll legend, while Tom Hanks takes the role of his manager Colonel Tom Parker.
After a lot of speculation about who would be chosen to personify The King, Baz Luhrmann has confirmed his decision that Austin Butler is the right fit for it.
A TV star for over a decade, the American actor and singer has earned his stripes in the cinematic world recently, after he took part in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon A Time in Hollywood and Jim Jarmusch’s zombie movie The Dead Don’t Die.
Harry Styles, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ansel Elgort and Miles Teller were also considered for the role but did not make the cut.
The Elvis Presley biopic, which has yet to be named, will recount the icon rise to fame and portray his relations with his entourage, especially with his mananager.
Advertisement
“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," he said.
“Throughout the casting process, it was an honour 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.”