Elvis Presley’s Family Approved Film About Singer, Says Director Baz Luhrmann

the movie director Baz Luhrmann said that the reaction of the family of Elvis Presley to his film about the flamboyant American icon, which premiered at Cannes Film Festival was “the biggest criticism of my career”.

The film chronicles more than 20 years of the life of the King of Rock and Roll, highlighting the relationship between Presley, played by Austin Butler, and his enigmatic manager Colonel Tom Parker, played by Tom Hanks .

Family members felt the biopic reflected “the humanity of man,” Luhrmann said at a packed press conference at the festival on Thursday. He told the reaction of the ex-wife of the singer, Priscilla Presley.

“She said, ‘If my husband were here today, he’d look him in the eye and say, ‘Damn, you’re me!’” Luhrmann said.

Butler explained that for more than two years he put the rest of his life on hold as he “fallen down the rabbit hole of obsession”, embarking on the project with “unrealistic expectations” that he could make his face look identical to Elvis’ if he work hard enough – comparing this approach to going to a wax museum.

“What’s really important is that your soul gets out,” Butler said, realizing.

Hanks recalled that Luhrmann sold him the role of the star’s manager, whom he described as a mercurial, brilliant man who made sure to line his own pockets.

“In this story, you meet a guy who saw a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to turn a talent into a cultural force,” he said.

Presley’s granddaughter Riley Keough, who presented her directorial debut film “War Pony” at Cannes, said last week that she thought Luhrmann did “an amazing job telling our story, our family story.”