Baz Luhrmann Explains Why Harry Styles Was Not Cast As Elvis

gamerant.com:

With director Baz Luhrmann's Elvis biopic to release later this month, and now Luhrmann has opened up about why singer Harry Styles was not cast as the King.

Styles, who is set to star in Olivia Wilde's Don't Worry Darling and Michael Grandage's My Policeman later this year, is not new to the acting world. Outside his sold-out world tours, Styles began his acting career in Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk. While the performer now has a fresh new role in Eternalsunder his belt, it is left to the imagination whether his acting career would have seen new heights following his near-casting in the Elvis film.

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However, it appears Styles' stardom actually factored into him being passed on for the role of Elvis. «Harry is a really talented actor. I would work on something with him,» Luhrmann told Rolling Stone. «The real issue with Harry is, he’s Harry Styles. He's already an icon.» Even though Styles was a strong contender for the role, Luhrmann could not deny the spiritual connection and commitment that he would have brought to the role. «Harry and I came to a place, genuinely I mean, he was just desperate to put the suit on and explore,» Luhrmann continued. «He's such a great spirit and I have nothing but great things to say about Harry Styles.»

Even though production wrapped over a year ago, Austin Butler (who landed the role) can still be heard slipping in and out of his accent during interviews for the film. The Elvis star deeply immersed himself in the world, so much so that the actor was rushed to the hospital with a virus the day after filming had ceased. «My body just started shutting down the day after I finished Elvis,» Butler told