Actor Austin Butler received praise from Presley’s family for his memorable performance as Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, but what did King himself think of the film? Previously, Priscilla Presley spoke highly of Butler’s performance.
Luhrmann said the best review he ever got was from “the woman who married Elvis Presley.” Per Deadline, Luhrmann spoke about the Presley family’s reaction to Butler as Elvis. Priscilla revealed how she was initially apprehensive, wondering how the “skinny” young actor could so convincingly portray the larger-than-life love of her life.
As Luhrmann recalls Priscilla, he first learned of the casting. “I mean really, really respectfully. Because now we’re like family, but she was a little vocal about her doubts. She said, ‘I don’t know, this movie is going to be crazy. How could Buzz and a skinny kid like this play Elvis?’ ”
Luhrmann explained that the real person Priscilla knew was not like a caricature of Elvis. It was created in fiction and in costume. Luhrmann understood the family’s fear of telling his story with Elvis. He’s some sort of Halloween costume.
But to his family, he was always a husband, father, grandfather, and man. There are things about Elvis that are hard for them to see, but they’re also going to see his humanity and his true spirituality, which is the most important thing.
In addition to publicly praising Elvis, Priscilla also personally sent a letter to Luhrmann after seeing the film. Luhrmann said he did not want to be revealed. In that letter, he wrote down what Priscilla had to say about how Elvis might have originally thought of the role of Austin Butler.
Depicting how the king reacts. As Luhrmann explains. “I won’t share them all, but the main 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 ‘hot damn.
You’re Me’ at the Oscars in 2023. If that’s the case, Butler’s praise from someone who knows Elvis Presley better than anyone is well-deserved.
