Priscilla Presley only had one eye on Sofia Coppola’s adaptation of her memoir Elvis and Me.
Distributed by A24, the biopic “Priscilla” was written and directed by Coppola and stars Cailee Spaeny as Elvis Presley’s (Jacob Elordi) wife. Priscilla serves as an executive producer on the film, which has since caused controversy for its portrayal of Elvis; The film is not approved by the official Presley estate.
“I was very concerned about this movie,” Priscilla said during a question-and-answer event at the South Point Casino in Las Vegas (via People Magazine). But she added: “I think it’s just right, to be honest.”
Presley added that Coppola “wanted so much for it to be right” and that she would not approve of another filmmaker adapting her 1985 autobiography.
“I love her filmmaking. I think she’s doing a great job,” Priscilla said. “It is for women and when she approached me about making a film about me, I was touched by it. If anyone were to make a film, it would be for them. I would never support another film by anyone else that does that.”
Priscilla continued: “She has such a big heart and her dad is very famous and she really connects with me. “I don’t have any problems with what she did.”
Priscilla’s late daughter Lisa Marie Presley expressed concerns about how her father Elvis was captured in the first draft of the “Priscilla” script. In emails obtained by Variety and confirmed by IndieWire, Lisa Marie wrote to Coppola that a “shockingly vindictive and contemptuous perspective” made Elvis seem “predatory and manipulative.”
Lisa Marie noted that she was “worried.” [Priscilla] “Doesn’t understand the intentions behind this film or the outcome it will have,” adding, “I will be forced to be in a position where I have to openly say what I think of the film and against you , my mother, must proceed.” and make this film public.”
Coppola assured Lisa Marie that she “took great care to honor Priscilla’s life story while portraying her father with sensitivity and complexity.”
Lisa Marie died in January 2023 before seeing the finished “Priscilla.” Lead actress Spaeny went on to win the Best Actress award at the Venice Film Festival. The film opened in cinemas on November 3rd.