Lisa Marie Presley will eat her foot if "spectacular" Elvis movie doesn't win an Oscar

17 May 2022, 12:11

Watch the trailer for Elvis

By Mayer Nissim

Lisa Marie Presley hails Austin Butler who "channelled and embodied my father’s heart & soul beautifully".

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Lisa Marie Presley has hailed Baz Luhrmann's new Elvis Presley biopic as "absolutely exquisite" and said that its lead actor should win an Oscar for his performance as her father.

Elvis gets its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival later this month before opening in UK and US cinemas on June 24, 2022.

Lisa Marie has rarely posted on social media since the death of her son Benjamin Keouch two years ago, but having seen the Elvis movie broke her silence to sing the praises of Luhrmann's eagerly-awaited film and its star Austin Butler.

"Hello, I haven’t posted in quite some time because there really isn’t much to say, as I'm and will forever be mourning the loss of my son," she said on Twitter.

"Navigating through this hideous grief that absolutely destroyed & shattered my heart and my soul into almost nothing has swallowed me whole."

Austin Butler as Elvis Presley in Elvis. Picture: Alamy

"However, that being said, I do want to take a moment to let you know that I've seen Baz Luhrmann's movie Elvis twice now."

She continued: "Let me tell you that it is nothing short of spectacular. Absolutely exquisite. Austin Butler channelled and embodied my father’s heart & soul beautifully.

"In my humble opinion, his performance is unprecedented and FINALLY done accurately and respectfully. (If he doesn’t get an Oscar for this, I will eat my own foot, haha.)

In my humble opinion, his performance is unprecedented and FINALLY done accurately and respectfully. (If he doesn’t get an Oscar for this, I will eat my own foot, haha.) pic.twitter.com/qrcj3N1yhy
— Lisa Marie Presley (@LisaPresley) May 14, 2022

"You can feel and witness Baz’s pure love, care, and respect for my father throughout this beautiful film, and it is finally something that myself and my children and their children can be proud of forever.

"What moved me to tears as well was watching Riley and Harper, and Finley afterwards, all 3 visibly overwhelmed in the best way possible way, and so filled with pride about their grandfather and his legacy in a way that I have not previously experienced."

Lisa Marie added: "It breaks my heart that my son isn’t here to see it. He would have absolutely loved it as well.

Elvis - That's the Way It Is - Official Trailer

"I can’t tell you enough how much I love this film and I hope you love it too. Everyone involved poured their hearts and souls into it, which is evidenced in their performances.

"Baz, your utter genius combined with your love and respect for my father and this project is just so beautiful and so inspiring.

"I know I'm being repetitive, but I don’t care, Thank you for setting the record straight in such a deeply profound and artistic way. Love you ~LMP."

Movie legend Tom Hanks stars as Elvis Presley's manager Colonel Tom Parker in the upcoming film, which also features Helen Thomson, Richard Roxburgh, Olivia DeJonge, Luke Bracey, Natasha Bassett, David Wenham, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Xavier Samuel and Kodi Smit-McPhee.

The film has been long in development, with Luhrmann first slated to direct in April 2014 and Hanks cast back in March 2019.

After much speculation, Butler was cast later that month, but after filming began in January 2020, the project was put on hold in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shooting resumed in September, but Maggie Gyllenhaal and Rufus Sewell had to give up their roles as Gladys and Vernon Presley due to scheduling conflicts caused by the delay, being replaced by Helen Thomson and Richard Roxburgh.