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The King of Rock 'n' Roll's story is hitting the big screen! As the wildly anticipated Baz Luhrmann musical drama "Elvis" comes to theaters on June 24, 2022, Wonderwall.com is talking a look at how the actors compare to the real-life players in Elvis Presley's life.
Keep reading to see how the stars measure up…
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The film centers around Elvis Presley, the legendary musician who rose to fame in the late '50s and became a cultural icon. Many actors have filled the King's shoes in movie and TV projects before, but this time around, a young California-born actor took on the role…
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Austin Butler portrays Elvis Presley in this latest take on the icon's life in "Elvis." Previously, the actor was best known for his work on television series like "Switched at Birth" and "The Carrie Diaries" — and his nearly 10-year relationship with actress Vanessa Hudgens. He's currently romancing Cindy Crawford's daughter, model Kaia Gerber, to whom he's been linked to since December 2021.
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Elvis Presley's most famous romance was with Priscilla Beaulieu. They met in Germany when the beauty was just 14 and wed seven years later in Las Vegas in 1967. They welcomed one child together, Lisa Marie Presley, but split in 1972. See who's playing the love of Elvis's life next…
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Australian actress Olivia DeJonge scored the coveted role of Priscilla Presley. Olivia recently starred on HBO's "The Staircase" and gained notoriety with her role on Netflix's "The Society" in 2019. She and Austin Butler were rumored to have had a fling while filming "Elvis" in her native Australia, but they've never confirmed a romance.
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Colonel Tom Parker was Elvis Presley's manager. The Dutch American businessman was responsible for securing his first recording contract with the RCA Victor record label. The Colonel later became overly involved in Elvis's personal life, influencing his decision to join the military and interfering in his marriage to Priscilla Presley. A legendary actor took on this role…
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Tom Hanks portrays Colonel Tom Parker in "Elvis." The Academy Award-winning actor, whose films have grossed nearly $10 billion worldwide, most famously starred in "Forrest Gump," "Big," "Philadelphia" and "Sleepless in Seattle." He's been married to Rita Wilson, his second wife, since 1988; the couple have two sons, Chet and Truman. Tom is also a father, with his late first wife, to fellow actor Colin Hanks and writer Elizabeth, who publishes under the name E.A. Hanks.
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Elvis Presley was famously very close to his mother, Gladys Love, throughout his life. The two are seen here embracing alongside Elvis's father, Vernon Presley.
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Helen Thomson plays Elvis's mom, Gladys, in this adaptation of the superstar's life. The Australian actress, who's best known for her work in the theater and on the Australian show "Rake," most recently appeared on the Australian miniseries "Fires" and "Bad Mothers." Maggie Gyllenhaal had previously been attached to the role but had to back out after the coronavirus pandemic shut down production.
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Vernon Presley, seen here with wife Gladys in 1956, was Elvis's father. He frequently switched jobs and even did a stint in jail after forging a check in 1938.
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Richard Roxburgh (far right) portrays Vernon Presley in "Elvis." The Australian actor is familiar to Baz Luhrmann fans — he played the Duke in "Moulin Rouge." He also previously appeared on the Australian show "Rake" just like his on-screen wife, Helen Thomson. As with the role of Gladys, a recasting occurred when the original actor hired to play Vernon, Rufus Sewell, had to drop out due to production delays.
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Legendary blues singer B.B. King is still considered to be one of the best electric guitarists of all time. He started making music back in Memphis during Elvis's era, and his intertwining path is featured in the film…
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Kelvin Harrison Jr. took on the role of B.B. King in "Elvis." If the actor looks familiar, it's because he's been working steadily in Hollywood since 2013. That year, he appeared in "12 Years a Slave" and "Ender's Game." Since then, he's most notably appeared in "It Comes at Night," "The Trial of the Chicago 7" and "Cyrano."
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Little Richard is considered the "Architect of Rock and Roll," rising to fame in the '50s and helping pave the way for the rock 'n' roll sound we know today. Elvis covered some of his music during his own meteoric rise. So who's filling those legendary shoes in the film?
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Alton Mason scored the role of Little Richard in "Elvis," marking his first ever acting gig! Alton previously made a name for himself as a model, making history in 2018 when he became the first Black male model to ever walk for Chanel. The following year, he was named male model of the year by GQ Australia. Like his on-screen counterpart, he also makes music in real life.
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Elvis Presley's first girlfriend, Dixie Locke, gets a nod in the film. She's seen here posing with Elvis before her junior high school prom in Memphis, Tennessee, back in 1955 at the beginning of his career.
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Natasha Bassett portrays Dixie Locke in "Elvis." Prior to this role, the Australian actress was best known for playing another world-famous music superstar — Britney Spears! Natasha starred as Britney in the Lifetime biopic "Britney Ever After" in 2017. She's also recently stirred up interest in her personal life after she was romantically linked to billionaire Elon Musk in 2022.
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Remember Elvis Presley's big hit "Hound Dog"? It was originally recorded by R&B singer Big Mama Thornton (born Willie Mae Thornton), who plays an important role in the biopic "Elvis."
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Shonka Dukureh took on the role of Big Mama Thornton in "Elvis." The talented actress is also a musician who performed with Doja Cat during the 2022 Coachella Music Festival and did her own set during the second weekend of the festival.
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Jerry Schilling was one of Elvis Presley's closest friends, so it's only natural he'd be brought to life on the big screen in this project. So who is playing Elvis's pal?
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Australian star Luke Bracey is taking on the role of Elvis's confidante Jerry Schilling. Like many notable Aussie actors, Luke got his start on the Australian soap opera "Home and Away." Since then, he's made a name for himself in the States with roles in flicks like "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," the "Point Break" remake and "Hacksaw Ridge."
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Sister Rosetta Tharpe was one of Elvis Presley's biggest inspirations. The musician was one of the first big gospel stars and helped to bridge the gap between gospel music and R&B. Let's see who's bringing this icon to life in the film…
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Singer Yola portrays Sister Rosetta Tharpe in "Elvis." Like her on-screen counterpart, the British musician has found success in music: She has four Grammy nominations under her belt including a 2020 nod for best new artist.