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Everything we know so far about Sofia Coppola's Priscilla film.
Last year was the year of Baz Luhrmann's Elvis biopic starring Austin Butler. The movie was highly publicized as it featured the story of Elvis' life and career. It was released on June 24, 2022 and was followed by an announcement in September of the same year that Sofia Coppola would be directing a film about Priscilla Presley with Jacob Elordi as Elvis and Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla.
So what are the differences between the two movies and what can viewers expect from this new film?
The highly anticipated teaser trailer for the film 'Priscilla' dropped on June 21, 2023. Let's break it down.
Priscilla will be about Priscilla Presley's life before, during, and presumably after her relationship with Elvis Presley. The director and writer of the film, Sofia Coppola has indicated that she wished to tell the story of Priscilla and Elvis from Priscilla's perspective rather than Elvis'. She has stated that she found Priscilla's growing up as a young woman in a world of fame and power interesting and a story worth telling.
Yes, Priscilla is based on Priscilla Presley's autobiography about her relationship with Elvis. The book covers everything from Priscilla's perspective from her first meeting with Elvis to their eventual divorce.
There has been some controversy as to how young Priscilla was when she met Elvis and moved into Graceland.
The new Priscilla movie is based on Priscilla Presley's book (co-authored by Sandra Harmon) titled Elvis and Me. In the book, Priscilla describes in her own words her relationship with Elvis and how they came to be married. The book was released in 1985 and was turned into a television movie in 1988.
"Beautifully written, felt like Priscilla was right there talking to me directly. As if we were two girls chatting having a cup of coffee together. I'm glad she wrote this, very nice to have her perspective captured for eternity, for future generations to read so Elvis will never be forgotten. A priceless treasure!"
I read this book a few years back and it is definitely interesting to hear Priscilla's perspective on her strange relationship with Elvis. There have been some people who have questioned Priscilla's accounts in the book, but Priscilla maintains that the book is factual.
The movie is written and directed by Sofia Coppola, who also directed The Bling Ring and Marie Antoinette. It is being released by A24, an independent entertainment company that also released Midsommar, Ladybird, and more.
Baz Luhrmann's biopic covered much of Elvis' life and career, with minimal focus on his personal relationships. While some of these themes are explored, including the impact of his divorce and his mother's death, it is more of a commentary on Elvis rather than Priscilla. The Priscilla movie will be from the female perspective, focusing on Priscilla's experiences at Graceland and her life with Elvis.
Sofia Coppola is known for her interpretations of female experiences and relationships in her films as well as themes of loneliness and isolation: Marie Antoinette, The Virgin Suicides, The Beguiled, etc.
Cailee Spaeny will be playing the titular character of Priscilla Beaulieu Presley in the film. She has been in Pacific Rim Uprising, On the Basis of Sex, and Vice.
Jacob Elordi plays Elvis in the film. He has been in Euphoria, Deep Water, and The Sweet East.
Priscilla is slated to be released in October 2023, although no official date has been announced as of yet.
The teaser trailer for Priscilla dropped on June 21, 2023 and is 45 seconds long.
The teaser opens with Priscilla stepping on a colorful bathmat with A24's logo in the center. It then shows her putting on eyeliner, eyelashes, lipstick, and preparing her hair with rollers and hairspray. It shows a flash of scenes of Priscilla meeting Elvis when he was stationed in Germany with the army, in contrast with her still being in high school. It cuts to her arriving to Graceland for the first time as a teenager when her parents agreed that she could live there temporarily with Elvis' parents. It shows Elvis and Priscilla walking in a crowd of paparazzi and Elvis taking Polaroids of her while they're frolicking together in bed.
The next short scene is of Priscilla and Elvis' iconic 1967 wedding in Las Vegas. It cuts to presumably their wedding night and Elvis performing on stage. The next few scenes show Priscilla at school, contrasting how young Priscilla really was when she got into a relationship with Elvis. There are scenes of them riding around Graceland and kissing in front of fireworks. There is a scene where Priscilla is looking at her pregnant belly in the mirror and later Elvis kissing Lisa Marie in Priscilla's arms.
There are scenes of Elvis spinning Priscilla around the house at Graceland and an ambient pink scene where Priscilla is touching presumably Elvis' chest. The scene cuts back to when Priscilla first met Elvis and had to leave him amongst a crowd of screaming fans. It then cuts to an older Priscilla driving a car by herself looking emotional. A title card on a blue satin sheet reads "Priscilla" and then cuts to a funny scene where Priscilla's mom is asking if there are any handsome boys at school when Priscilla looks up at her knowingly. Then the scene cuts immediately to Priscilla and Elvis passionately kissing on their wedding night.
Are you interested in seeing the Priscilla movie? This is one that I absolutely can't wait to see!
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