Introduction
Matt Cage photos, credited to C.MacArthur.
I am no expert it comes to movie stars, so I cannot comment on the acting skills of Austin Butler who has been selected to play the part of Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s biopic about the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. However, I can say from my experiences of seeing the play Million Dollar Quartet four times in one year, the role of Elvis Presley comes to life when played by an ETA. The first time I saw MDQ was at the Avalon Theatre in Niagara Falls. While the actor in the US touring company sang well and did a fairly good job of acting, his portrayal could not compare to that of ETA Matt Cage. Matt brought passion to the role; and when he sang his solo Elvis songs, he set the stage on fire! Matt was so successful in the role of Elvis in MDQ that he performed in cities across Canada, finally topping off his tour as an actor/singer by performing at the Mirvish Theatre in Toronto. When I asked Matt a few months ago if he would be interested in auditioning at the Capital Theatre in Port Hope as they were in the process of casting the role of Elvis for their summer theatre, Matt said that he no longer had to audition for the role since he receives calls all the time asking if he would be interested in reprising the role. Let’s hope Austin Butler enjoys the same success playing Elvis on the big screen!
The following is an article by Variety Film Reporter, Justin Kroll, with edits by C. MacArthur. Thank you to Heather for sending me the link. Cheers!
Baz Luhrmann’s Biopic has Found its King of Rock ‘n’ Roll
After numerous screen tests, Austin Butler has been tapped to play Elvis Presley in Luhrmann’s next feature film for Warner Bros. The studio tested with a handful of actors in full hair and make-up at the end of June to see who would join Tom Hanks, who will play Presley’s manager, Col. Tom Parker.
“I knew I couldn’t make this film if the casting wasn’t absolutely right, and we searched thoroughly for an actor with the ability to evoke the singular natural movement and vocal qualities of this peerless star, but also the inner vulnerability of the artist,” Luhrmann said in a statement. “Throughout the casting process, it was an honor for me to encounter such a vast array of talent. I had heard about Austin Butler from his stand-out role opposite Denzel Washington in ‘The Iceman Cometh’ on Broadway, and through a journey of extensive screen testing and music and performance workshops, I knew unequivocally that I had found someone who could embody the spirit of one of the world’s most iconic musical figures.”
Luhrmann also co-wrote the script with Craig Pearce. The movie covers the relationship between the veteran manager and the young singer, who came from dirt-poor origins to become an iconic star who changed the course of music. The project marks Luhrmann’s first film since his adaptation of “The Great Gatsby” starring Leonardo DiCaprio. He most recently worked on the Netflix series “The Get Down.”
The plan is to shoot at the top of 2020 to accommodate Hanks’ schedule, which includes the upcoming Paul Greengrass movie “News of the World,” which shoots in the fall.
Butler’s recent credits include Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and Jim Jarmusch’s zombie comedy “The Dead Don’t Die.” On the small screen, he has starred on the CW’s “The Carrie Diaries,” “Switched at Birth” and “Zoey 101.”
What do SB Mag Readers Think: Yes/No?
Judging solely on looks, did Baz Luhrmann make a good choice? Depending on how many decades the movie covers, Austin does have a fresh young face for the 50s. Will he be required to wear a jumpsuit in the movie? If you were to pick an ETA, who would you cast in the role? Keep in mind, your ETA would have to act, as well as sing.
Photo Credit: Getty Images, per Katie Scott, National Online Journalist, in her article for Entertainment Global News.