Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Presley movie at Warner Bros. has cast Australian actress Olivia DeJonge in the role of his wife Priscilla Presley.
Priscilla Ann Presley nee Wagner, was born in Brooklyn, NY. She was married to Presley from 1967 to 1973 and was the chairwoman of Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE), the company that turned the King of Rock n’ Roll’s mansion, Graceland, into one of the top tourist attractions in the United States. Elvis met Priscilla during his army career in 1959 when he became smitten with the girl despite the fact that she was 14 and he 24. They had a seven-and-half year courtship. She lived with Elvis as early as 1963 at Graceland with Presley promising Priscilla’s parents that he’d marry her. At one point when rumors broke about Elvis’ affairs, Priscilla’s father threatened to have Elvis charged under the Mann Act which entailed “taking a minor across state lines for sexual purposes.” Lisa Marie was their only daughter, and the couple divorced in 1972.
Luhrmann, who is known to have a keen eye for discovering new faces, stated, “Olivia is capable of manifesting the complex depth and presence that has made Priscilla Presley an icon in her own right. She’s an extremely talented young actor and the perfect counterpoint to Austin’s Elvis.” (Austin Butler is playing Presley.)
The untitled drama covers the seminal legend’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. The film will shoot early next year in Queensland, Australia. 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 loss of innocence in America. Central to that journey is one of the most significant and influential people in Elvis’s life, Priscilla Presley.
DeJonge joins Butler and Tom Hanks, who plays Presley’s manager Colonel Tom Parker.
DeJonge has worked consistently in her native Australia and is known for her performances in such movies as M. Night Shyamalan’s The Visit, The Sisterhood of the Night, Better Watch Out, and this year’s Stray Dolls, which premiered in the U.S. at the Tribeca Film Festival. On television, she starred in the Netflix series The Society as Elle Tomkins, TNT’s Will and Hiding.
(Excerpt) Read more in: Deadline
