- Title: No King without Black music, says 'Elvis' star at London premiere
- Date: 31st May 2022
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MAY 31, 2022) (REUTERS) "ELVIS" BELT BUCKLE WORN BY DIRECTOR BAZ LUHRMANN / LUHRMANN GIVING RED CARPET INTERVIEW RED CARPET, TOM HANKS ON STAGE ACTOR AUSTIN BUTLER ARRIVING ON RED CARPET BUTLER GIVING READ CARPET INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR WHO PLAYS ELVIS PRESLEY, AUSTIN BUTLER, ON WHAT HE WANTS AUDIENCES TO LEARN ABOUT ELVIS, SAYING: "Seeing where he (Elvis Presley) came from, and the fact that we wouldn't have Elvis without Black music. And giving credit where credit is due in that way. And also the sensitivity of Elvis, the depth of him, he was a deeply spiritual man and a really complex human. So I hope that they glean the three dimensional amazing man that he was." BUTLER TALKING IN BACKGROUND / LUHRMANN IN FOREGROUND (SOUNDBITE) (English) "ELVIS" DIRECTOR, BAZ LUHRMANN, SAYING: "He (Elvis Presley) always said, 'I'm not the King,' you know, 'Fats Domino come here you're the King.' He always understood his relationship to Black music and culture, and it was businessmen and others that tried to destroy that."
- Embargoed: 14th June 2022 21:58
- Keywords: Austin Butler BFI Southbank Baz Luhrmann Elvis Presley Elvis movie Elvis red carpet London premiere Tom Hanks music biopic
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM / VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM / VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
- Country: UK
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Europe,Film
- Reuters ID: LVA001159030052022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Baz Luhrmann and the stars of his new Elvis Presley biopic extravaganza walked the red carpet at the film's London premiere on Tuesday (May 31).
"Elvis" chronicles the life of the King of Rock and Roll, played by Austin Butler, from a poor boy influenced by gospel music to the world's best-selling solo artist and, ultimately, an exploited Las Vegas attraction.
The film explores the moral panic brought on by Presley's gyrating dance moves in the 1950s racially segregated United States, as well as his musical debt to Black rock pioneers like Arthur Crudup and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
"We wouldn't have Elvis without Black music," Butler told Reuters.
The 30-year-old star who recreates Elvis' stage performances in several flamboyant musical sequences, said he hoped the film gives "credit where credit is due."
Tom Hanks, who plays Presley's enigmatic manager Colonel Tom Parker, also walked the red carpet on Tuesday.
The relationship between Parker and Presley and their conflicts play a central role in the film.
"(Elvis) always understood his relationship to Black music and culture, and it was businessmen and others that tried to destroy that," said Luhrmann, who is famous for directing spectacles like "Moulin Rouge."
Wife of the rock icon Priscilla Presley, played by Olivia DeJonge, has praised the film and Butler's portrayal of Elvis.
"A lot of people looked at Elvis but not a lot of people saw Elvis... she (Priscilla Presley) was one of the very few that really cared about his heart and his soul," said DeJonge.
"Elvis" is out in the United Kingdom and Ireland on June 24.
(Production: Gerhard Mey, Kristian Brunse) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2022. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None