This week, the second Baz Luhrmann trailer for the new Elvis movie dropped to much fanfare. In addition to giving fans a glimpse into Austin Butler's performance as the iconic artist, the clip features tracks off the soundtrack that are sure to become favorite 2022 new songs.
Baz Luhrmann's Elvis, as the production is dubbed, officially premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in France this week, receiving explosive applauses and a 10-minute standing ovation following its screening at the Lumière Theatre. But what makes the movie so amazing?
WHAT IS THE NEW ELVIS MOVIE ABOUT?
Elvis is a biographical musical film directed by Baz, of Moulin Rouge! and The Great Gatsby fame. The production looks at Elvis Presley's rise to fame, from his childhood in Tennessee to his extraordinary career as the King of Rock and Roll.
The movie also explores Elvis' complicated relationship with manager Colonel Tom Parker and will likely touch upon his passing at the age of 42 following his heavy drug use throughout the years.
WHO STARS IN THE NEW ELVIS MOVIE?
Austin Butler has already received stellar reviews for his portrayal of Elvis in the new movie. Chaydon Jay takes on the role of a younger Elvis while Academy Award winning actor Tom Hanks stars as his manager, Tom.
The cast is rounded out by Helen Thomson, who takes on the role of Elvis' mother Gladys Presley, Richard Roxburgh as the star's father, Vernon Presley, and Olivia DeJonge as Elvis' wife, Priscilla Presley.
BAZ LUHRMANN TRAILER
As is usually the case with all types of Baz productions, the new Elvis trailer debuted to much excitement, giving the audience a look at the glitz and glamour that defined the King of Rock and Roll’s life.
In the clip, fans are treated to Austin's dancing on stage while a voiceover says, "Our country itself is sick and it's lost its sense of direction, even its common decency." Tom, Gladys, Richard and Olivia are also seen in character in the video.
2022 NEW SONGS FROM THE NEW ELVIS MOVIE
As should be expected given the fact that the film is an in-depth at one of the most iconic artists in history, the music on the new Elvis movie will be just as important as the acting.
Great news: the full lineup for the Elvis soundtrack has already been revealed. Fair warning: although we know all the artists featured on the album, we have yet to figure out who will sing what tracks exactly. The release date for the soundtrack hasn’t been announced yet either.
Austin will be singing some tracks and Elvis is featured in the lineup as well. Other artists performing on the soundtrack include Kacey Musgraves, Stevie Nicks, Jack White, Gary Clark Jr., Doja Cat, Eminem, Swae Lee and Diplo.
WHAT DOES THE PRESLEY FAMILY THINK OF THE NEW ELVIS MOVIE?
Most of the Presley family has gone on the record about how awesome the new Elvis biopic is.
"In the first five minutes, I could feel how much work Baz and Austin [Butler] put into trying to get it right," Riley Keough, Elvis' granddaughter, recently said to Variety. "I started crying five minutes in and didn’t stop. There’s a lot of family trauma and generational trauma that started around then for our family. I felt honored they worked so hard to really get his essence, to feel his essence. Austin captured that so beautifully."
Priscilla, who was Elvis' ex-wife by the time he passed, told her Instagram followers earlier this month that she had already watched the film "over a dozen times." Her daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, also took to Instagram to comment on the production, calling it "absolutely exquisite."
"You can feel and witness Baz’s pure love, care and respect for my father throughout this beautiful film, and it is finally something that myself and my children and their children can be proud of forever," she wrote on social media. "I can't tell you enough how much I love this film and I hope you love it too. Thank you [Baz] for setting the record straight in such a deeply profound and artistic way."
