Harry Stylewho debuted his acting career withDunkirkand appeared in the MCU as Eros, brother of Thanos in last year’sEternals,missed out on the titular role inBaz Luhrmann’sElvis. The Oscar-nominated filmmaker recently spoke toFitzy & Wipparadio podcast about his decision to castAustin Butlerinstead.
Praising Harry’s talent and iconic status, Luhrmann told the Australian podcast “Harry is a really talented actor. I would work on something with him [but] the real issue with Harry is, he’s Harry Styles. He’s already an icon.” Who would have thought that being a music icon can go against Styles for a role in the upcoming musical drama? Nonetheless, Luhrmann explained, “Harry and I came to a place, genuinely I mean, he was just desperate to put the suit on and explore. He’s such a great spirit and I have nothing but great things to say about Harry Styles.”
Butler earned rave reviews forhis performanceand got a 12-minute standing ovation at its Cannes Film Festival world premiere. “The thing about Austin was that he will tell you himself, I didn’t pick him: It’s as if he was drawn, like the role drew them in, because he was almost born to play it,” Luhrmann said. To seal the deal Butler sent the director a tape that featured him singing a broken down version of the 1965 hit ‘Unchained Melody’. Needlessy to say, the strategy paid off, and the rest is movie history.
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All is well that ends well though, Styles has since gone on to extend his filmography with roles in the highly anticipatedDon’t Worry DarlingoppositeFlorence Pugh,and the upcoming period drama,My Policeman.
Elvisalso starsTom Hanksas Tom Parker, withHelen Thomsonplaying Elvis’s mother, Gladys;Richard Roxburghportraying Elvis’s father, Vernon, andOlivia DeJongeplaying Priscilla. Other cast members includeLuke Braceywhoplays Jerry Schilling,Natasha Bassettwho plays Dixie Locke,David Wenhamwho plays Hank Snow,Kelvin Harrison Jr. who plays B.B. King,Xavier Samuelwho plays Scotty Moore, and the Academy Award nominatedKodi Smit-McPheewho plays Jimmie Rodgers Snow.
The musical drama hit theaters in the US on June 24. Check out the synopsis forElvis.
A thoroughly cinematic drama, Elvis’s (Butler) story is seen through the prism of his complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Hanks). As told by Parker, the film delves into the complex dynamic between the two spanning over 20 years, from Presley’s rise to fame to his unprecedented stardom, against the backdrop of the evolving cultural landscape and loss of innocence in America. Central to that journey is one of the significant and influential people in Elvis’s life, Priscilla Presley (Olivia DeJonge).
