Austin Butler is cast to play Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann movie.
The Elvis biopic by Warner Bros is directed and co-written by Luhrmann, who shared the news on Twitter.
Luhrmann stated in Variety, “I had heard about Austin Butler from his stand-out role opposite Denzel Washington in ‘The Iceman Cometh’ on Broadway” He also chose Butler out of a plethora of actors including Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort, Harry Styles, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
Craig Pearce will be co-writing Luhrmann, who worked on collaborations together on ‘The Great Gatsby’ in 2013, and ‘Moulin Rouge!’ in 2001.
To our excitement, Tom Hanks will reportedly play the rock icon’s controlling manager, Colonel Tom Parker. It is rumored that production is to be gein early next year in Queensland, Australia.
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Butler shared the happy news on Instagram with a quote from the singer’s “Love Me Tender” hit song.
Luhrmann, who is an Oscar-nominated film-maker said, “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 added, “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.”
Vanessa Hudgens, who is Butler’s 7-year-long girlfriend, congratulated him on her Instagram.
