Biopics about famous characters have acted as a foundation for many movies over the years. Elton John and Freddie Mercury are only a couple of iconic musical artists who have earned their place on the biopic mantle. Joining them soon on the mantle will be Elvis, thanks to Baz Luhrmann’s new biopic titled after the rock star.
Relating a story about world-famous figures is never an easy task as audiences are usually well aware of the biography of iconic individuals. Biopics have to excel in terms of timeline, portrayal, and selection of cast. By making the decision to cast Austin Butler as the lead role in Elvis, Luhrmann has sent audience expectations soaring. Butler is known for his roles in movies such as Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood and The Dead Don’t Die has his loyal fanbase. His role as Elvis is sure to turn more viewers into faithful followers.
Let's look at why Austin Butler is the perfect choice as the King of Rock and Roll!
Initial Fan Reactions
The Elvis movie has been in the works for quite a while, having been first announced in 2014. The hype slowly died down, and everything on the Elvis front was rather quiet until Tom Hanks was announced for the role of Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis’ manager. This announcement propelled rumors regarding who would take up the position of the ever-famous Elvis, and the names of Harry Styles, Miles Teller, and Ansel Elgort were quickly thrown around. Both Styles and Elgort were initially considered a perfect fit for the role due to their personalities and brooding good looks.
However, in somewhat of a shock announcement, it was revealed at the end of 2019 that Austin Butler had been cast as Elvis. Some were not initially in favor of the selection as they felt that Butler did not reach the standards required of an actor who would portray Elvis. Fan opinions soon changed after the trailer's release, and now, many are swooning over how perfect Butler is for the role of Elvis.
How is Butler Perfect for the Role?
Luhrmann did not take the role of finding the correct actor for Elvis lightly. Speaking to Deadline, the director 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.”
In his selection of Austin Butler for the role, Luhrmann did not doubt that he had made the correct choice, continuing:
"Luhrmann stated, “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.”
Aside from winning over Luhrmann, Butler was also able to win the hearts of many Elvis lovers. His efforts in transforming his appearance to impeccably match that of Elvis and being able to mimic Elvis’ Southern drawl perfectly soon convinced fans that Butler was perfect for the role. In addition to nailing the appearance and flawlessly executing the accent, Butler also proved himself to be an ideal fit for the role with his musical abilities. Butler was able to successfully master Elvis Presley’s trademark hip-gyrating dance moves and was also able to give a faultless performance of the rock and roll icon’s early career songs. The voice of Butler being used for Presley’s early performances speaks volumes about Butler’s talent and once again reiterates his suitability for the role of Elvis.
Moreover, the heartfelt sentiments which Butler expressed over portraying Elvis also showcase his genuinity and humility in impersonating the rock star. Speaking of the role at a virtual press conference as per The Hollywood Reporter, Butler said,
“You can impersonate somebody, but to find the humanity and the life within, I had to unleash myself from the constraints of that and try to live the life as truthfully as possible.It's such an incredible responsibility. I feel not only a responsibility to Elvis and his life, but to his family and all the people around the world who love him so dearly.He's such an icon and held up to superhuman status, so to get to explore that for years now and learn why he was the way that he was and find the human within that icon, that was such a joy," he said. "I could do it for the rest of my life."
While many would consider just the uncanny resemblance between Butler and Elvis more than enough to establish the actor as the perfect actor to portray The King, the heartfelt sentiments expressed regarding the opportunity to play the role, the obvious adoration for the icon, and dedication in perfecting the impersonation of Elvis further demonstrate why Butler was the right choice.
After being in production for more than two years due to the pandemic, Elvis will release in theaters on June 24, 2022.