Barely a fortnight after a list of high-profile names were rumoured to be in the running to play Elvis Presley in a new biopic, the lead role has now been cast.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Aussie director Baz Luhrmann was set to set his sights towards the world of rock and roll for his next project, with a biopic of music legend Elvis Presley in the works.
While attention was turned to whether or not One Direction singer Harry Styles might continue his acting career by taking on The King, names like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ansel Elgort, and Miles Teller were also floated for the lead role.
Now, as Deadline reports, Luhrmann has tapped 27-year-old US actor Austin Butler to portray Elvis Presley in the new film.
While Butler’s name might not have been seen on the credits to any huge films over the years, 2019 has seen him appear in a few big productions, having scored roles in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood and The Dead Don’t Die from Jim Jarmusch.
“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,” Baz Luhrmann explained in a statement given to Deadline.
“Throughout the casting process, it was an honor for me to encounter such a vast array of talent,” he added. “I knew unequivocally that I had found someone who could embody the spirit of one of the world’s most iconic musical figures.”
While the as-yet-untitled film has also cast Tom Hanks as the role of Elvis’ manager, Col. Tom Parker, it appears as though Baz Luhrmann will be returning home to film the new film, with production reportedly set to kick off in Queensland in 2020.
Check out Elvis Presley’s ‘Return To Sender:
