Elvis opened up to great success at the box office and has been met with praise from critics, many of which have offered particular praise to actor Austin Butler’s performance as the titular music icon. Directed by Baz Luhrmann, Elvis tells the story of Elvis Presley’s rise to fame as seen through the eyes of his manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks). It is now playing in movie theaters after premiering in June.
Speaking with Variety about Butler’s casting as the King of Rock ’n Roll, casting director Denise Chamian opened up about what it was like to cast the role of Elvis Presley. This was something that was taken so seriously by Luhrmann and the filmmakers that actors from all across the world were considered. Even so, Butler was someone who had been in consideration from the very start of the process.
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Chamian had a good feeling about Butler from the start, but Luhrmann had a handful of people he wanted to test for the role before making the final call. Other actors that were in the mix as finalists for the role included Ansel Elgort, Miles Teller, and Harry Styles. Butler’s name was included on a list of actors given to Luhrmann by Chamian, and while she recommended Butler for the role, his lack of starring roles in major feature films made the casting a bit of an uphill climb.
Austin Butler Nailed ‘Unchained Melody’ to Secure the Role
Warner Bros. Pictures
Austin Butler had a certain look and charm that were reminiscent of Elvis Presley, but how he sang and perform were also important factors to consider. Chamian reveals how Butler had recorded himself performing a rendition of “Unchained Melody” with the video leaving a big impact. The other actors had performed the very same song with their own screen tests, complete with the trademark hair and white jumpsuit, but not one of them seemed to replicate the real Elvis as much as Butler.
Elvis is now playing in movie theaters.
