Austin Butler, the star of Baz Luhrmann's upcoming Elvis movie, sounds remarkably like The King in a new teaser video. Known for 1996's Romeo + Juliet, 2001's Moulin Rouge, 2008's Australia, and 2013's The Great Gatsby, the Australian filmmaker has reportedly been working on an Elvis Presley project since 2014. The biopic is written by Sam Bromell, Jeremy Donner, and Luhrmann, and is scheduled for release on June 24 of this year.
In addition to Butler as Presley, the upcoming Elvis movie stars Tom Hanks, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Olivia DeJonge, Kodi Smit-McPhee, David Wenham, Rufus Sewell, and Dacre Montgomery. Hanks will play Colonel Tom Parker, Presley's manager, who oversaw most aspects of the star's life. Butler is best known for his roles as Tex Watson in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood and Jack in The Dead Don't Die. Details regarding the upcoming Elvis biopic remain scarce, and an official trailer for the movie has yet to be released.
In a short new teaser posted to his Twitter, Luhrmann shares some fresh footage from the film, giving fans a glimpse at Butler's performance as Presley. In addition to showing off some of the King's iconic dance moves and his dynamic stage presence, the short clip also gives fans a first listen to Butler's take on the musician's distinctive voice. Check out the Elvis teaser below:
Click here to see Luhrmann's original post on Twitter
While the clip doesn't reveal the film's official title, it does promise that a full trailer will arrive at some point on Thursday. In addition to showing off the King seemingly at the height of his popularity, Butler's voiceover suggests the film will also chronicle the darker aspects of Presley's life. The singer famously struggled with addiction for most of the later parts of his life and died of a heart attack in 1977, likely brought on by his excessive use of prescription barbiturates.
Much is still unknown about Luhrmann's upcoming Elvis biopic, but the short clip does suggest Butler's take on the iconic star will be very true-to-life. Everything from the dancing to the instantly recognizable voice appears to be spot-on, which bodes well for the fans who have been waiting to see the King come back to life on the big screen. With Luhrmann's unique filmmaking style and what appears to be a very strong performance from Butler, the upcoming Elvis Presley movie will hopefully satisfy longtime Elvis fans and newcomers alike. More of Butler's take on Presley is sure to be shown off on Thursday when the full trailer drops.
Source: Baz Luhrmann/ Twitter
