Who played Elvis Presley better, Jacob Elordi or Austin Butler? Here’s why that might be the wrong question to ask about Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis and Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla biopics
- Luhrmann’s film focused on Elvis’ rise to superstardom and his relationship with manipulative manager Colonel Tom Parker, while Priscilla delved into the affect fame had on his former wife
- Elordi got IRL Priscilla’s approval while Butler had two years of singing, dancing and speech lessons – but what about Cailee Spaney’s epic performance?
When an actor takes on an iconic or well-known role, such as Batman or the Joker, it’s normal for fans to have strong opinions on the performance. The same scrutiny applies to stars who transform into real-life music legends, perhaps to a higher degree because there’s an existing person to base the performance on. Did the actor nail the voice? How much do they look like the person they’re playing?
Elvis, a star so ingrained in American culture that he needs no introduction beyond his first name, has been portrayed by a myriad of actors in various films over the decades.
Naturally, people started comparing the 196cm Australian actor to Butler, who earned an Oscar nomination for his performance.
The comparisons are inevitable, but they’re unnecessary. And with Priscilla now in theatres across the globe, it’s even clearer that these two Elvises aren’t meant to compete with each other.
Austin Butler in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis
Luhrmann’s Elvis is about the titular character’s superstardom and issues with his manipulative manager.
The film is a glitzy retelling of Elvis’ origin story, from his humble beginnings to his meteoric rise – from the perspective of his controlling manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks).