Everything to Know About Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Elvis,’ Starring Austin Butler, Tom Hanks and More

Credit: Rob Latour/Shutterstock; Hugh Stewart/Warner Bros.

Everything to Know About Baz Luhrmann's 'Elvis,' Starring Austin Butler, Tom Hanks and More

All shook up! Elvis Presley fans have been dreaming of Baz Luhrmann's biopic since it was first announced in 2014, and seven years later, the wait is almost over. The Moulin Rouge! director also cowrote the screenplay for the film, simply titled Elvis. In July 2019, Austin Butler landed the role of the "Jailhouse Rock" singer after a highly publicized search process. Though the California native is known for his roles in movies including Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and The Dead Don't Die, he also has a musical background perfectly suited for playing a rock 'n' roll icon. "I play the guitar and I play the piano, and my first instrument was the violin," he told Interview magazine in October 2019. "I started playing the violin when I was in elementary school. I got a guitar when I was 13 and fell in love. I would play for eight hours a day and that became my obsession." After shooting began in early 2020, Luhrmann gushed about Butler's take on the role, which would be daunting for any actor. "I always avoid getting in and heralding the work we’re doing before we do it, but during the testing process, his commitment, his transformative abilities from the young Elvis to beyond, he had been playing so very well," the Australia director told Deadline in March 2020. "He was terrific. There was such great energy and excitement in the cast and company, about the show we were about to shoot." [jwplayer FuYhuUoN-zhNYySv2] The production process, however, hasn't always been easy. Tom Hanks, who plays Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, contracted COVID-19 in March 2020 while shooting the film in Australia. The Oscar winner became one of the first celebrities to publicly reveal a coronavirus diagnosis, sending shockwaves across Hollywood. "If there was anything good about it, the very best thing that came out of it was when someone like Tom Hanks got it, I noticed that globally and particularly in America ... suddenly everyone went, 'This is real,'" Luhrmann told Deadline. "He became an advertisement for it." The Forrest Gump star and his wife, Rita Wilson, quickly recovered, but Hanks later said that he experienced some fatigue. "I couldn’t concentrate on anything for more than about 12 minutes," he told The Guardian in July 2020. "That last bit is kinda like my natural state anyway." With the on-set coronavirus scare in the rearview, the first teaser for the film finally debuted in November 2021. "Made a little something to let you good people know we are taking care of business on June 24, 2022," Luhrmann tweeted at the time alongside a short clip from the film. ("Taking care of business," as Elvis fans know, was the singer's motto as well as the name of his band.) Keep scrolling for everything to know about Elvis: [podcast_block]

Credit: Rob Latour/Shutterstock; Hugh Stewart/Warner Bros.

Everything to Know About Baz Luhrmann's 'Elvis,' Starring Austin Butler, Tom Hanks and More

All shook up! Elvis Presley fans have been dreaming of Baz Luhrmann's biopic since it was first announced in 2014, and seven years later, the wait is almost over. The Moulin Rouge! director also cowrote the screenplay for the film, simply titled Elvis. In July 2019, Austin Butler landed the role of the "Jailhouse Rock" singer after a highly publicized search process. Though the California native is known for his roles in movies including Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and The Dead Don't Die, he also has a musical background perfectly suited for playing a rock 'n' roll icon. "I play the guitar and I play the piano, and my first instrument was the violin," he told Interview magazine in October 2019. "I started playing the violin when I was in elementary school. I got a guitar when I was 13 and fell in love. I would play for eight hours a day and that became my obsession." After shooting began in early 2020, Luhrmann gushed about Butler's take on the role, which would be daunting for any actor. "I always avoid getting in and heralding the work we’re doing before we do it, but during the testing process, his commitment, his transformative abilities from the young Elvis to beyond, he had been playing so very well," the Australia director told Deadline in March 2020. "He was terrific. There was such great energy and excitement in the cast and company, about the show we were about to shoot." [jwplayer FuYhuUoN-zhNYySv2] The production process, however, hasn't always been easy. Tom Hanks, who plays Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, contracted COVID-19 in March 2020 while shooting the film in Australia. The Oscar winner became one of the first celebrities to publicly reveal a coronavirus diagnosis, sending shockwaves across Hollywood. "If there was anything good about it, the very best thing that came out of it was when someone like Tom Hanks got it, I noticed that globally and particularly in America ... suddenly everyone went, 'This is real,'" Luhrmann told Deadline. "He became an advertisement for it." The Forrest Gump star and his wife, Rita Wilson, quickly recovered, but Hanks later said that he experienced some fatigue. "I couldn’t concentrate on anything for more than about 12 minutes," he told The Guardian in July 2020. "That last bit is kinda like my natural state anyway." With the on-set coronavirus scare in the rearview, the first teaser for the film finally debuted in November 2021. "Made a little something to let you good people know we are taking care of business on June 24, 2022," Luhrmann tweeted at the time alongside a short clip from the film. ("Taking care of business," as Elvis fans know, was the singer's motto as well as the name of his band.) Keep scrolling for everything to know about Elvis: [podcast_block]

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Who's Playing Elvis?

Butler won the role of Presley after beating out an impressive roster of talent that included Ansel Elgort, Miles Teller, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Harry Styles.

Credit: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

Who Else Is in It?

In addition to Hanks, the movie stars Olivia DeJonge as Elvis' wife, Priscilla Presley, while Helen Thomson and Richard Roxburgh as his parents. (Moulin Rouge! fans may recognize Roxburgh as the villainous Duke.)

Though Elvis is the focus of the film, there will also be cameos from other legendary musicians including Sister Rosetta Tharpe (Yola), B.B. King (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), Little Richard (Alton Mason), Hank Snow (David Wenham) and Jimmie Rodgers (Kodi Smit-McPhee).  

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What's It About?

Specifics are still under wraps, but the action will start in Elvis' early days — Chaydon Jay plays the singer during his preteen years. Elvis and Priscilla tied the knot in 1967, so it's safe to assume the film goes at least that far in his career. It seems likely that the movie will include his famous '68 Comeback Special too, as Dacre Montgomery landed the role of Steve Binder, who directed the televised concert.  

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When Does It Premiere?

Elvis is set to hit theaters on June 24, 2022. It will also be available to stream via HBO Max for 45 days after its theatrical debut.

Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures/YouTube

The Trailer

After the first footage dropped in February 2022, Butler confirmed he is the one singing in the movie.

“When I began the process, I set out to get my voice to be identical. That instills fear. So that got the fire burning. For a year before we started shooting, I was doing voice coaching,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “I watched as much [footage of Elvis’ concerts] as I could, over and over. I feel such a responsibility to Elvis and to Priscilla and Lisa Marie, and all the people around the world who love him so much.”

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Priscilla Presley’s Stamp of Approval

“This story is about Elvis and Colonel Parker’s relationship. It is a true story told brilliantly and creatively that only Baz, in his unique artistic way, could have delivered,” Priscilla — who was married to Elvis between May 1967 and October 1973 — tweeted in April 2022. “Austin Butler, who played Elvis is outstanding. Halfway through the film, Jerry [Schilling] and I looked at each other and said 'WOW!!! Bravo to him.’ He knew he had big shoes to fill. He was extremely nervous playing this part. I can only imagine.”

She added: “The story, as we all know, does not have a happy ending. But I think you will understand a little bit more of Elvis’ journey, penned by a director who put his heart and soul and many hours into this film.”

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The Soundtrack

It was announced at the 2022 Met Gala that Kacey Musgraves recorded a version of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” for the film.

Credit: Eric Charbonneau/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

Fully Family Approval

Priscilla revealed that daughter Lisa-Marie Presley loves the film, and they believe granddaughter Riley Keough will feel the same.

"I’ve seen Elvis the film, I watched the trailer over a dozen times. But the words I heard from my daughter on how much she loved the film and that Riley will love it too when she sees it brought tears," Priscilla wrote via Instagram in May 2022. "I relived every moment in this film. It took me a few days to overcome the emotions as it did with Lisa. Beautifully done Baz, Tom, Austin and Olivia."