Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming biopic on Elvis Presley has found its King. Yes, you heard it absolutely right. After plenty of speculation and competitive casting contest, Baz Luhrmann finally confirmed that 27-year-old rising star Austin Butler will play the lead role in the upcoming biopic.
Austin Butler, who last year made his Broadway debut in the revival of The Iceman Cometh starring Denzel Washington, has stepped into The King’s blue suede shoes for the upcoming film. He is best known for roles in teen-oriented series like “The Carrie Diaries” and “The Shannara Chronicles.” Austin also has a role in Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming “Once Upon a Time.. in Hollywood” which is set in the era of 1960s in Los Angeles and also stars mega actors namely Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie.
Austin posted the news to Instagram feeling elated and wrote the caption from Presley’s hit ‘Love Me Tender’: “You have made my life complete, and I love you so.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz8sg24Bw6y/?utm_source=ig_embed
Baz Luhrmann, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker who has earlier contributed to the industry with big hits such as ‘The Great Gatsby’ and ‘Moulin Rouge!’, expressed in his statement,
“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. 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.”
Elvis A. Presley / Austin Butler pic.twitter.com/Rtl1P4nv9o
— Baz Luhrmann (@bazluhrmann) July 15, 2019
According to Baz Luhrmann’s statement given to Variety, “I had heard about Austin Butler from his stand-out role opposite Denzel Washington in ‘The Iceman Cometh’ on Broadway.”
The movie will explore Elvis Presley’s life through the lens of his complicated, 20-year relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker who controlled every aspect of Elvis’ life. It was previously announced that Tom Hanks would play the hip-shaking rock icon’s notoriously controlling manager. The movie will focus on this complicated relationship and will be split into two parts, where the first half will be completely focused on Presley’s early success and then his life after 35.
The screenplay is written together by Luhrmann and Craig Pearce, with whom he also collaborated on 2013’s “The Great Gatsby”. Luhrmann is also co-producing alongside the Oscar-winner Catherine Martin. Production is to begin early next year, with filming on location in Queensland, Australia.
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