Austin Butler will star as Elvis Presley in new Baz Luhrmann movie
Austin Butler will play Elvis Presley in an untitled drama about the musician's life, Deadline confirms. The movie, which will be directed by Baz Luhrmann, will focus on Elvis's journey from rags to riches.
The story will be told through Presley's complicated relationship with manager Colonel Tom Parker, who will be played by the legendary Tom Hanks.
Harry Styles, Ansel Elgort and Miles Teller were also considered for the role, but director Baz Luhrmann believed The Carrie Diaries actor was best suited for the part.
The director told Deadline, "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 continued, "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.”
The screenplay for the untitled movie has been penned by Luhrmann and Craig Pearce.
