Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Presley biopic has found its second star in Australian actress Olivia Dejonge. The news comes as a total shock to Lana Del Rey fans across the globe who assumed the singer would get the part, she was even vetted for the role by Priscilla herself back in July. Looks like a feature (with pop powerhouses Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus no less) on the Charlie’s Angels soundtrack is as good as we’re getting for now.
I’m so mad Lana Del Rey didn’t get the role as priscilla wtf pic.twitter.com/hiAIj02Rkx— Kimberly Namjoon (@Jiminslilqueen) October 26, 2019
Luhrmann has been behind some of the biggest pictures of the past few decades (Romeo + Juliet, The Great Gatsby, Moulin Rouge) and is known for spotlighting new blood. This is a breakout role for Dejonge, who recently starred in Netflix’s The Society, as she takes to the big screen alongside former Disney dreamboat and Man About Town cover star Austin Butler. Her character, Priscilla Presley, is a sixties style icon through and through, her classic bouffant and spider-like eyelashes as vital to the decades visual history as her late ex-husband and his other musical contemporaries.
Much controversy surrounded the pair’s marriage as Priscilla was just fourteen when she met during Presley, ten years her senior, during his army service in Germany in 1959. The pair were together for seven years, marrying in Las Vegas in 1967 and having daughter Lisa Marie exactly nine months later. The film is set to focus on Presley’s meteoric rise to rock superstardom and his relationship with manager Col. Tom Parker, played by Tom Hanks.
If it's true it's going to be legendary.. Baz Luhrmann's cinematography is absolutely beautiful… (here some screenshots from his movies) #BoyWithLuv pic.twitter.com/MsWax17SmY— heartbeat ❄️ (@hyyhstory) April 7, 2019
If we’ve learned anything from Luhrmann’s previous flicks, we can expect beautiful costuming (think a bejewelled white jumpsuit by Miuccia Prada), a killer score which turns the discography of the star on its head (we’d advise Luhrmann to bring back Fergie for this one), and plenty of jaw dropping cinematography. As Presley recorded over 600 songs in his lifetime, his back catalogue leaves almost too much room for musical numbers and compelling soundtrack moments alike.
Filming is set to take place in Queensland, Australia early next year, with the film set to be released in October 2021.