Although there have been countless Elvis impersonators, Priscilla Presley says Austin Butler’s take would have particularly impressed the King.
Warner Bros.
Actor Austin Butler has received praise from the Presley family for his unforgettable performance as Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, but what would the king himself think of the film? Previously, Priscilla Presley has said great things about Butler’s performance. Luhrmann also said that the best review he received that meant more to him than any other was from “the woman who was married to Elvis Presley.”
Per Deadline, Luhrmann spoke more about the Presley family’s reaction to Butler as Elvis. It reveals how worried Priscilla was initially, wondering how the “skinny” young actor would be able to convincingly portray the love of his life who was, in many ways, bigger than life itself. As Luhrmann recalls Priscilla first learning about the cast:
“I really say that with a lot of respect, because now we are like a family, but she expressed her doubts a little bit. She said, “I don’t know, this movie could be crazy. Baz can be wackadoo. And how can this skinny kid play Elvis?’ »
Luhrmann explains how the real man Priscilla knew was not like the caricature of Elvis that had been created in fiction and through impersonations. This made Luhrmann realize the family’s apprehension about his story being told with Elvis, though he got them on board when they heard about what he was planning to do with the film.
“Elvis had become wallpaper. He was kind of a Halloween costume. But to his family, he was always a husband, father, grandfather, and person. There were things they would struggle to see about Elvis. , but they were also going to see his humanity and his true spirituality, which was the most important thing.
The real Elvis would have been delighted
Pictures from Warner Bros.
In addition to publicly praising Elvis, Priscilla had also personally sent a letter to Luhrmann after seeing the film. Luhrmann says he doesn’t want to divulge everything that was written in the letter, but he does reveal what Priscilla says about how the real Elvis would have thought about portraying Austin Butler. Given how much the performance impressed Priscilla herself, she imagines the late singer himself would have been just as impressed, clearly imagining how the King would have reacted. As Luhrmann explains:
“I won’t share everything, but the key thing she said was, ‘All my life I’ve had to put up with people pretending to be my husband, and I don’t know how that boy did it, but every move, every wink… If my husband was here, he’d be like, ‘Damn, you’re me.’ »
Butler has also garnered plenty of praise elsewhere. There’s been a lot of talk about him possibly up for Best Actor at the 2023 Oscars. If that happened, it would be very well-deserved, given the accolades Butler pulled straight from the person who knew Elvis Presley. better than anyone. .
You can stream Elvis on HBO Max.
Elvis Presley would have been impressed with Austin Butler’s portrayal, says Priscilla | Pretty Reel