Austin Butler to Play Elvis Presley in New Baz Luhrmann Biopic

BY Josiah HughesPublished Jul 15, 2019

We may never get to see Rob Delaney's Elvis, but there's still more Elvis Presley content on the way, as Baz Luhrmann is prepping a biopic about the troubled rock'n'roll icon. 

After casting rumours that included everyone from Harry Styles to Ansel Elgort to Miles Teller, Baz has found his Elvis in one Austin Butler.

Butler is a former child actor known for roles in shows like Switched at Birth and The Carrie Diaries, though he's recently switched to more mature fare like The Dead Don't Die and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

"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," Luhrmann said in a statement.

"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 Elvis biopic will also star Tom Hanks as Presley's manager Col. Tom Parker.

At this point, though, few other details are available about the upcoming film, so stay tuned.

 

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