Moviefone Editorial

Tag: austin-butler

  • ‘Dune,’ Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Biopic Release Dates Announced

    ‘Dune,’ Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Biopic Release Dates Announced

    Warner Bros. Pictures

    Warner Bros. just pushed Denis Villeneuve‘s “Dune” film back one month to Dec. 18, 2020.

    That pits it against another big-budget remake, Steven Spielberg‘s “West Side Story,” as well as  the video game adaptation “Uncharted” starring Tom Holland, and the “Coming to America” sequel.

    The studio also set a release date for the untitled Elvis Presley biopic from director Baz Luhrmann. It will open Oct. 1, 2021.

    Austin Butler (currently playing a Manson Family member in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”) will star as the late music legend.

    The story will “delve into their complex dynamic spanning over 20 years, from Presley’s rise to fame to his unprecedented stardom, against the backdrop of the evolving cultural landscape and the loss of innocence in America.”

    They’ve also penciled in an unnamed film for Nov. 20, 2020. Odds on its being a DCEU movie?

    [Via THR]

  • Austin Butler to Play Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s Biopic

    Austin Butler to Play Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s Biopic

    MTV

    Baz Luhrmann has found the right actor to fill Elvis Presley’s blue suede shoes.

    The director has cast Austin Butler (“Shannara Chronicles,” “The Carrie Diaries”) to play the king of rock and roll in his upcoming biopic.

    The untitled drama will chronicle the legendary singer’s growth from dirt poor singer to global icon, seen through the prism of his complex relationship over two decades with manager Colonel Tom Parker (to be played by Tom Hanks).

    It will follow Presley’s elevation to a level of stardom and celebrity matched only by The Beatles, set against an evolving cultural landscape and loss of innocence in America.

    Butler’s casting comes after a competitive process that had young male stars like Ansel Elgort, Miles Teller and Harry Styles in the mix.

    “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,” said Luhrmann 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.”

    Butler can currently be seen in Jim Jarmusch’s zombie movie “The Dead Don’t Die” and next in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”

    Filming will begin early next year in Luhrmann’s native Australia.

  • Ansel Elgort, Miles Teller Among Top Contenders to Star in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Film: Report

    Ansel Elgort, Miles Teller Among Top Contenders to Star in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Film: Report

    Ansel Elgort; Miles Teller
    Stage 6 Films and Vertical Entertainment; Universal Pictures

    Who will be The King? That’s what Baz Luhrmann has to decide.

    Casting remains underway for the director’s upcoming film about Elvis Presley and his manager Colonel Tom Parker. While Luhrmann has locked down Tom Hanks to play Parker, he’s still looking for his Elvis. As of now, four top contenders have emerged, according to Deadline.

    Lurhmann is reportedly deciding between Ansel Elgort, Miles Teller, Austin Butler, and Harry Styles. He tested their singing, dancing, and acting abilities last weekend, and Deadline’s sources indicate that they didn’t make it easy for Lurhmann to choose between them. Still, he intends to make his decision by next week, per the publication.

    Interestingly, none of these actors is exactly the newcomer Lurhmann was previously said to be looking for.  Elgort had a breakout year in 2014 when he starred in “The Fault in Our Stars” and the Divergent series. He has since starred in “Baby Driver,” “November Criminals,” and “Billionaire Boys Club,” among others. Teller was one of Elgort’s “Divergent” co-stars, and his work also includes films such as “Thank You for Your Service” and the upcoming “Top Gun: Maverick.” Meanwhile, Butler has numerous TV roles on his resume and stars in the star-studded “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” which is due out in late July. Compared to the others, Styles has the least acting experience, but he is still well-known for his music career.

    It’ll be interesting to see whom Lurhmann picks. Whoever gets the role will star alongside Hanks in a film written by Craig Pearce that follows Presley’s rise with Parker’s guidance.

    [via: Deadline]

  • ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ Adds Lena Dunham, Maya Hawke, Austin Butler, More

    ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ Adds Lena Dunham, Maya Hawke, Austin Butler, More

    Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
    Sony

    If Quentin Tarantino‘s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” keeps growing it may literally star everyone who has ever been in Hollywood.

    The 1969-set drama stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt as actor Rick Dalton and Rick’s longtime stunt double Cliff Booth, with Margot Robbie as Rick’s famous neighbor Sharon Tate. The backdrop of the film is the Charles Manson murders that would claim the life of pregnant Sharon Tate and four others.

    According to TheWrap, Lena Dunham (“Girls”) has joined the cast in her first major feature film role. She’ll play Gypsy.

    Catherine Louise “Gypsy” Share was a member of the Manson Family, but wasn’t directly involved in the August 1969 Tate murders. She did later testified at the 1970 trial, and served time in prison after a shootout with fellow Family members in 1971.

    Former Disney/Nickelodeon star Austin Butler (“Switched at Birth,” “The Shannara Chronicles“) has also joined the cast as Tex. Charles “Tex” Watson was also a member of the Manson Family, and was directly involved in the Tate murders.

    Maya Hawke — daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman — has been cast as the fictional character Flower Child. She’s hot off “Little Women” and her upcoming role in “Stranger Things” Season 3.

    Lorenza Izzo (“Knock, Knock,” “Aftershock”) is a Chilean actress/model, but she will play glamorous Italian movie star Francesca Capucci.

    Actor/martial artist Mike Moh (“Inhumans”) was previously announced to be joining the cast as Bruce Lee, who worked with Sharon Tate and was briefly investigated for the Manson murders.

    The film has already shared first look photos of DiCaprio and Pitt in character (see above) and Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate.

    “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” is scheduled to be released on July 26, 2019.

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