Priscillais the upcoming film from Sofia Coppola set to hit theaters next month. Based on the memoirElvis and Meby Priscilla Presley, the movie stars Cailee Spaeny as the title character alongsideJacob Elordias Elvis. The film will chronicle the duo’s initial meeting when Priscilla was only 14 and Elvis, already known for his talents, was 24. Then, rather than follow Elvis’s well-known rise to fame, the film will explore the couple’s marriage, the birth of their daughter, and their subsequent divorce. AlthoughSpaeny is the ultimate star of the film, there’s growing interest in what Elordi’s portrayal of Elvis will look like, given other recent award-winning depictions of the King of Rock and Roll.
Austin Butler most recently portrayed the icon in Elvis, which nabbed him a Golden Globe win as well as an Oscar nomination. While Butler’s portrayal of the icon was worthy of every accolade he received, Elordi’s upcoming iteration of the music legend could easily surpass Butler’s most recent big-screen embodiment of the icon. Unlike most portrayals of the music legend, the newest iteration won’t put the King front and center. Rather, he’ll essentially be a side character while Priscilla and her point of view will take center stage. As a result, Elordi’s representation of Elvis will likely be a rare one viewers have yet to see on the big screen.
Elvis Isn’t the Main Character
Butler played Elvis in last year’s critically acclaimedElvis, which chronicled the musician’s rise to fame alongside his controversial manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks), who was arguably the real main character of the film.Butler was highly praisedfor his depiction of the late musical legend, snagging a Golden Globe win and an Oscar nomination. He threw himself into the role so much that it was difficult for the actor to shake the singer’s iconic accent following the end of the film’s production.
GivenElvisbegan shooting in January 2020, it was met with many delays amid the pandemic. Ultimately, Butler was forced to continue the singer’s unique southern drawl while production was halted so he could be ready whenever filming resumed. As a result, Butler was steeped in everything Elvis for years, which more than likely positively affected his portrayal of the King of Rock and Roll.
Although Butler’s performance is garnered as one of the best, it lacked a level of intimacy that many Elvis performances seem to. That’s not to say Butler didn’t expertly capture an Elvis highly known to the world, but it remained a one-sided perspective so many viewers have already seen. His portrayal carried the film, which will be drastically different than Elordi’s upcoming depiction of the singer, in which Elvis isn’t the main character.
Priscilla: Why There’s No Elvis Music in the Movie, Explained
Priscilla, a biopic telling the story of the late Elvis Presley’s ex-wife, has no Elvis music in it. Read on to know why!
Priscilla’s Perspective
Not only will thefilm not be centered around Elvis, but its perspective will be different from most depictions involving the music legend. Given the movie is based on Priscilla Presley’s own 1985 book she authored alongside Sandra Harmon, the film will encompass her point of view and the challenges she faced after her marriage to Elvis when she was only 21. The film won’t be a movie about Elvis so much as it will be a movie about Priscilla’s lived experience with the famous musician.
With Priscilla’s perspective front and center in Coppola’s upcoming film, audiences will see a side of Elvis rarely seen in movies involving the King of Rock and Roll. Elordi’s challenge comes with representing such a well-known and well-loved icon in a way audiences have never seen before. While Butler’s rendition of Elvis is a reflection of the Elvis known by the world, Elordi’s portrayal will be arepresentation of Elvis known only to Priscilla, which will ultimately be more intimate.
Best Priscilla Presley Performances, Ranked
Priscilla Presley has given many memorable performances over her 40-year career.
In many ways, previous films about Elvis have gloried the singer. WhilePriscillawill likely romanticize aspects of Elvis’s life, given his relationship with Priscilla, it’s not a film about him. As a result, it’s more likely to be critical of the circumstances Priscilla faced in the wake of their marriage and the struggles she encountered as the wife of such a widely-known public figure. Her point of view will inherently shift the way Elvis is portrayed on screen andshine a light on their lives togetherat home behind closed doors.
Priscilla’s perspective in the hands of afemale director like Sofia Coppola, whose style has been described as understated atmospheric filmmaking, ensures such a portrayal of Priscilla and her husband will be one audiences haven’t seen. Known for movies likeThe Virgin SuicidesandMarie Antoinette, Coppola’s distinct style captures the female perspective in a way other filmmakers envy, andPriscillais unlikely to be an exception. As a result, Elordi’s depiction of Elvis can easily surpass Butler’s portrayal that viewers witnessed last year.
