Austin Butler and Priscilla Presley. Image Source: Vogue
Baz Luhrmann recalls Priscilla Presley being skeptical of Austin Butler's portrayal of Elvis.
Director Baz Luhrmann recently shared at the Oscar Nominees Luncheon held in Beverly Hills that the late Elvis Presley’s ex-wife Priscilla Presley and their daughter Lisa Marie Presley were very closely attached to the movie, and they looked over the casting for the movie as well.
Baz said that he was not going to move ahead with the movie until he could find someone who could play Elvis, and he almost thought that he couldn’t find one until Austin Butler walked in and was finalized for the part. The director mentioned that Austin Butler devoted himself to learning the songs of the legendary singer, his mannerism, and his iconic voice, and Baz was very impressed with how everything turned out.
The director recalled that the most nerve-wracking moment for him was when he was supposed to screen the movie for Priscilla Presley for the first time. Baz Luhrmann added that Priscilla was skeptical about how a young child, Austin Butler, could represent her husband, noting that the family has already had their fair share of setbacks with onscreen portrayals of Elvis. The director recalled Priscilla composing him a letter in which she accepted that she was harsh on him and added that if her husband were present, he would say, "Hot damn, the actor on screen is him."
Baz mentioned that Priscilla asked him how Austin Butler knew about Elvis' rage, his stillness, and his complex inner life because that's not out there. That's not in any of the biography of Elvis.The director went on to say that the praise Austin Butler has garnered for his portrayal of Elvis on screen is well worthy of praise and that he can't exaggerate the level of acting accomplishment for Austin Butler, and he has been around for a long time, so even he is shocked by what the young actor has attained.
Austin Butler was nominated for his first Academy Award last month and has been emphatic in his gratitude to the Presley family at every possible chance this awards season, paying special tribute to Lisa Marie, who passed away on Jan. 12 at the age of 54, less than 2 weeks before nominees were revealed.
Austin told The Hollywood Reporter that the role seemed like an inconceivable mountain to climb because there were far too many pitfalls that he was simply taking one step at a time. The actor continued by stating that the instances when Lisa Marie and Priscilla Presley got to watch the film and then when he saw them for the first time afterward... nothing he'd ever do ever would top that. Austin expressed his regret that Lisa Marie was unable to join them in celebrating today.
The actor described Lisa Marie as the most simple and direct and committed to providing, adding that he knows how they'd celebrate today, you know, because of all the times they got to rejoice together, and he hopes she and Elvis were both here to experience this time. Austin Butler concluded by expressing what her help meant to him as he worked so hard to bring her father back to life onscreen. He expressed his appreciation for the time he spent with Lisa Marie, as well as the opportunity to spend three years discovering her father's life.
When the actor sees or feels moments like today, he takes a moment to think, that okay, this is something he should be grateful for adding that nothing, however, equates to the moment he looked into her eyes when she viewed the film for the first time, and she told me how much it meant to her. Austin said he will treasure that for the rest of his life.
Baz Luhrmann said on SiriusXM's The Jess Cagle Show that after he showed the film to Lisa Marie Presley, they were welcomed into the family and everything was joyful.
The director also explained why there was tension leading up to the Golden Globe Awards, saying that the night before that was Elvis' birthday and it was such a happy time, and then came the Globes, but Lisa Marie was so relaxed when Austin Butler won the award for Best Actor. He continued by stating that the late singer came to believe that her father, who was not there and who had somehow fallen out of a reasonable position, should be in the hearts and minds of not only American culture, but world culture, and that had been reinstated.
