Baz Luhrmann's Elvis Presley biopic has finally found their leading man! Austin Butler will play 'the King of Rock and Roll' in the upcoming movie.
The untitled Warner Bros. film will follow Elvis Presley's rise to fame and detail both his life and his music. It will also focus on his complicated relationship with his manager, Col. Tom Parker, played by Tom Hanks.
For Luhrmann, finding the right actor to take on this role was a long and difficult process. He considered a wide array of talented actors and musicians, including Harry Styles, Ansel Elgort, and Miles Teller.
"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,” Luhrmann said in a statement.
Butler first caught Luhrmann's attention with his 2018 performance in The Iceman Cometh on Broadway. His filmography includes The Dead Don't Die and the upcoming Quentin Tarantino film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. He has also appeared on several television series such as Arrow, The Carrie Diaries, and Zoey 101.
After multiple screen tests and performance workshops, Luhrmann said he was absolutely certain that Butler will "embody the spirit of one of the world’s most iconic musical figures.”
Luhrmann will direct the film and is a co-writer alongside BAFTA winner Craig Pearce, and production is expected to begin in early 2020!
