Baz Luhrmann's Elvis Presley biopic gets release date

Film stars Austin Butler as the King of Rock, with Tom Hanks playing his longtime manager

Austin Butler attends the premiere of The Dead Don't Die on 10 June, 2019 in New York City. (Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

Baz Luhrmann’s anticipated Elvis Presley biopic has been given a release date of 1 October, 2021 after finding its star in Austin Butler.

The actor was cast from a shortlist of five contenders, which also included Miles Teller, Harry Styles, Ansel Elgort and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

Butler will play the King of Rock in the drama, which Warner Bros has described as a story that will “delve into the complex dynamic” between Presley and his manager Col. Tom Parker. Parker, who controlled every aspect of the performer’s life, will be played by Tom Hanks.

The movie’s timeline will span 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”.

The Presley biopic marks Luhrmann’s first film since his adaptation of The Great Gatsby.

Butler’s most recent work includes a role in Quentin Tarantino’s latest movie Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, alongside Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio.

The plan is to shoot at the top of 2020 to accommodate Hanks’ schedule, according to Variety.