Baz Luhrmann is behind the new biopic and it's been reported that five young actors have been called in to test for the role, with Austin Butler, Ansel Elgort, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Harry Styles and Miles Teller all in the running.
The two were out looking at holiday lights one night when one of Presley's Christmas songs came on the radio, prompting Hudgens to remark, “You've got to play Elvis!” Butler had been told before that he looked like Presley, but he had never given it much thought, responding: “Oh, that's such a long shot.”
Miles Teller was a top fan choice for the role of Elvis. At the time of the international casting call for the part, fans were abuzz posting side-by-side comparisons of the Top Gun: Maverick star next to the iconic crooner Presley.
How much did Austin Butler get paid for playing Elvis?
Summary. Austin Butler earned $700,000 for his role in the biographical film "Elvis." Butler's earnings were the second-highest in the cast of "Elvis." Butler's performance as Elvis Presley earned him critical acclaim and various award nominations.
Given Hanks' prevailing stardom, Butler reportedly earned significantly less than his co-star. Although Butler was the face of Elvis, Hanks' reputation precedes him, resulting in the veteran actor securing a larger...
Luhrmann watched Austin Butler's Elvis audition and, despite previously considering bigger stars for the role, the director found the perfect star for his Elvis biopic. “What I heard vocally, and more importantly, what I saw emotionally, was something that simply couldn't be ignored,” Luhrmann said.
Tom Hanks has already been cast as Elvis' notoriously controlling manager, Colonel Tom Parker — and Ansel Elgort, Miles Teller, Austin Butler and Harry Styles have all auditioned for the part of the legendary singer, Deadline reports.
Elvis decided he wanted the guitar, his mother purchased it for him, and his pastor, Bro. Frank Smith, taught him how to play it. Elvis could often be seen around town with his guitar in hand.
The three men had no equipment on them to break through the marble and concrete mausoleum. Nor any apparent means to break into or transport the heavy 900lb (64 stone) copper coffin. Furthermore, Raymond Green, Eugene Nelson and Ronnie Lee Adkins had not attempted to do anything before they were arrested.
Thornton's story is not unique, as Elvis was influenced by B.B. King, Little Richard, Fats Domino, Jackson, Tharpe, Big Boy and more. Little Richard argued that he was the rightful heir to the king of rock 'n' roll title, with Berry up there with him.
Butler addressed his accent again last year following his win at the 2023 Golden Globes for best actor in a drama for his role in Elvis. “I don't even think about it. I don't think I sound like him still, but I guess I must because I hear it a lot,” he said backstage at the time.
Did Austin Butler do any of his own singing in Elvis?
Austin Butler sang many of the songs heard in Baz Luhrmann's Elvis, impressing audiences with his flawless range and lilting Presley drawl. The use of stems allowed Butler's and Presley's vocals to be woven together, creating a seamless transition between their voices in the film.
Butler revealed that he worked with a dialect coach to lose his Elvis accent before filming the Apple TV+ series Masters of the Air. “I started a week after [wrapping Elvis],” Butler explained during an interview on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. “It was almost too fast. …
Schilling helped Presley get clean in 1975, by which time he had already quit working for him on several occasions, compromised by his boss's self-destructive behaviour. 'By 1976 I was faced with two choices - I could stay around and be a pain in the ass or I could be a yes-man. I didn't like either.
He didn't think about longevity, old age," says Schilling, who was a member of the singer's close-knit group of friends, dubbed the "Memphis Mafia." "He used to always say, 'Look, I don't want to hoard up this money. I want to spend it while we're young. ' And he was known to give a lot of gifts."
There were two artists in the early 60s that bore a striking vocal resemblance to Elvis and had some significant success: Ral Donner and Terry Stafford.
Seems like a lot considering he “only” got paid $700,000 for his most famous role—but this could have something to do with the fact that he's starring in the upcoming Dune 2 and presumably commanded a pretty high post-Elvis paycheck. Either way, expect Austin to stay humble.
The film oversimplifies Elvis Presley's musical influences, relationships, and personal history for the sake of an idolatrous story. While not completely accurate, the movie contains enough truth to make it compelling as both art and a version of history, as evident by its Golden Globe win and Oscar nomination.
What happened between Vanessa Hudgens and Austin Butler?
Their split was reported around the time that Austin headed to Australia to start work on Baz Luhrmann's Elvis Presley biopic, and numerous reports suggested that the demands of the role may have been the catalyst for the breakup.
The depth and resonance of his voice can be chalked up to maturity. His voice is getting deeper over time, because that's what voices do,” Singer says. Another major component of the shift, he explains, is the countless hours Butler spent singing over the course of his three-year Presley sojourn.
