Baz Luhrmann explains why Harry Styles was not the right fit. Image Source: iHeart
Baz Luhrmann reveals why Harry Styles was not picked up for "Elvis".
Baz Luhrmann recently spoke to the Australian radio podcast ‘Fitzy and Wippa’ on how Harry Styles was also one of the strong contenders to play Elvis Presley in "Elvis", but eventually, the role went to Austin Butler, who was recently praised at the Cannes Film Festival after the movie received a 12-minute standing ovation from the audience. Actor Miles Teller was also one of the contenders for the role.
Baz Luhrmann said that he does not audition, but instead he does these really rich workshops. The maker said that Harry Styles is a talented actor and he would work with him on some other project in the future, but for Elvis, he was not the right choice. He explained that the issue was that he’s Harry Styles, and he’s already an icon. Baz said that he and Harry came to a place where the singer was just desperate to put the suit on and explore. The maker added that Harry Styles has such a great spirit and he has nothing but great things to say about him.
Speaking about picking Austin Butler for the role, Baz Luhrmann said that the thing Austin will also say is that he did not pick the role, the role chose him. He added that it was as if the role of Elvis drew him in and that it almost felt like he was born to play Elvis in a movie. The maker added that just like Elvis Presley, Austin Butler also lost his mother at the same time, and he sent a video to him in which the actor sang the broken down version of "Unchained Melody" for audition and that, according to the maker, sealed the deal for the actor.
Baz Luhrmann also added that for two years, Austin Butler was non-stop living and breathing Elvis and now he is in the phase of deprogramming. Elvis stars Tom Hanks and Olivia DeJonge. Elvis’ ex-wife Priscilla Presley said that the movie is for everyone and she praised Austin Butler for his uncanny resemblance and the hard work he put in to play the icon and mentioned that her daughter and her granddaughter all loved the movie and appreciated what the team had come up with.
Harry Styles said in an interview with Howard Stern that Elvis was probably the first person he knew outside of his family when he was little and added that there was something incredibly sacred about it and made him feel like he should audition for the part. He said that he was very intrigued by it and added that if the director felt that he wasn’t the right fit then it was good for both of them because he did not want to be the not-as-good version of Elvis Presley.
Harry Styles, even though he lost out the role of Elvis Presley to Austin Butler but has his kitties full. The singer recently released his third studio album, ‘Harry’s Home’, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The singer-turned actor is all set to sizzle on-screen with Florence Pugh in ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ a psychological thriller directed by his girlfriend and extremely talented Olivia Wilde. While appearing on Howard Stern Show, the singer said that he had a great time and experience while being directed by Olivia and added that acting is all about trust.
