Baz Luhrmann directing a film about the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll Elvis Presley? Sign me up. 

The first footage from the idiosyncratic Aussie director’s upcoming biopic dropped yesterday on what Luhrmann dubbed ‘Elvis Monday’. “Made a little something to let you good people know we are taking care of business,” he wrote on Twitter.

Austin Butler has the difficult challenge of portraying the legendary singer but going by this teaser, he at least looks the part. The footage is very moody indeed, featuring a lot of strutting around various places.

A very altered, slowed-down version of Elvis’ classic hit ‘Suspicious Minds’ plays over the footage. And the classic Elvis quiff is on point which is a good start. It’s enough to have viewers…all shook up (I’m so sorry).

The clip ends by displaying the date June 24th, 2022, in dazzling gold. Warner Bros. have pushed the film back to that date from its originally scheduled release on June 3rd, 2022.

Luhrmann included the hashtag #TCB in his social media post, probably a reference to Taking Care of Business, the name of Elvis’ band when he toured in 1969. The TCB Band formed the main rhythm section of his band from that year until his death in 1977.

The as-yet untitled biopic will cover Elvis’ entire life, the boy born into poverty who became a global superstar. Luhrmann has decided to mainly focus on his complicated relationship over two decades with manager Colonel Tom Parker, who will be played by Tom Hanks.

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Butler landed the prized role as Elvis back in 2019. He’s probably most recognisable from his starring role in fantasy drama The Shannara Chronicles. He’s also had a small part as Manson Family member Tex Watson in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. His casting probably has a lot to do with sharing the same piercing blue eyes that made Elvis so beloved.

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