Promotional poster cutout “Priscilla” (A24)
After Elvis revived Presleymania by going for a colourful, tragic and kind biopic about the artist’s character, fate has now turned the tables. Because Sofia Coppola Just released the first trailer for Priscillathe biographical film that tells the other side of the love story between the King of Rock and his wife, and without going into detail, in just 45 seconds the first signs of the looming media tremor can already be seen.
The movie is based on Elvis and Ithe biographical book that Priscilla Presley published in 1986. And apparently she is enthusiastic about the director’s production of “Marie Antoinette” and praises her work and the interpretation of her story. “I’m really excited to see how teacher Sofia Coppola interprets my book,” she told TMZ. “He has such an extraordinary perspective and I’ve always been a huge fan of his work. I’m sure this film will take everyone on an emotional journey.”
However, those responsible for controlling Elvis Presley’s estate have a different opinion. They tend to think the opposite. According to TMZ, officials say the film stars Jacob Elordi (euphoria) in the role of Elvis and Cailee Spaeny (Mare of Easttown) as Priscilla was made “without the knowledge or consent of the estate”.
One of those responsible saw the film and criticized the director’s work “disgusting”adding this “feels like a college movie. The sets are just awful, it doesn’t look like Graceland.”
Another source went even further and assured page six that “everyone” is shocked by Priscilla’s comments. “He talks like he hasn’t seen the movie and seen what a prick he is,” the source said. “This is another example of Priscilla getting every dollar out of her relationship with Elvis, regardless of the consequences.”
However, this split in opinions for and against the film only shows the media disaster that awaits us upon its release. Priscilla. Aside from the film’s quality — which I find hard to believe it’s going to be “terrible” for a filmmaker with such a meticulously intimate and elegant eye as Sofia Coppola — the biopic will likely raise issues that could shake up Elvis Presley’s legacy, if if you look at it from a modern social perspective. While it could expose the apparent rivalry between Priscilla and those in charge of the estate.
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The film’s official description summarizes that Priscilla will narrate the love story between her and Elvis as they endured “a long relationship and a turbulent marriage”. And while the trailer plays with the aura of romance by recreating the wedding, it doesn’t fully reflect the entire story. Because if we take into account real data like the age difference as well as the details Priscilla revealed in her book, there’s no doubt that hot winds are blowing up between the ex-wife and the singer’s estate.
Priscilla Presley, wife of Elvis, during her husband’s show at the International Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, 1969. (Photo by Oscar Abolafia/TPLP/Getty Images)
Priscilla Ann Wagner was 14 when she met Elvis during the singer’s military service in Germany. Presley had already found fame and was 24 years old. It’s 1959 and despite the age difference – which Elvis doesn’t elaborate on in the film – they began a relationship that lasted through the years Priscilla graduated from high school and he made the leap into Hollywood cinema.
However, the negative reaction of those responsible for Elvis’ estate could have more substance than mere film criticism. Because the biopic is based on the book written by Priscilla, it might dust off some glaring details that might provoke critical or negative comments from the singer.
Because although Priscilla Presley always seemed to try to excuse the negative aspects of the relationship, perhaps to avoid ruining the singer’s legacy or because she didn’t want to tarnish her memory herself, in the book she opens up about Elvis’ alleged infidelity while she… He was waiting at his home in Memphis when he was less than 20 years old. She says she was so jealous that she began accompanying him on his travels and says Elvis threatened to send her home if she persisted in her suspicions.
In addition, she talks about how her insecurities led her to mimic other women’s looks in hopes of pleasing him. And let’s not forget that he was between 14 and 21 years old. I was practically a teenager without enough experience.
He says he tried drugs by his side and that the singer didn’t ask him to marry him, just told him they were getting married. Furthermore, it is revealed that it was Elvis during their courtship who decided they would only have sex after marriage, instead teaching him how to please him in other ways (cheat sheet).
Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie Presley and Elvis Presley (Photo by Magma Agency/WireImage)
Over the years, Priscilla has defended their relationship with a certain nostalgic tone, without addressing or emphasizing controversial details like the age difference or possible signs of emotional manipulation at such a young age. For example, he said, “It was a good life.” That the romance “was different, but it was ours” (People).
Priscilla decided to leave the relationship in 1972 after beginning an affair with a karate instructor named Mike Stone. “By mid-1972 I realized things weren’t going to change and that we were living separate lives,” she told Ladies’ Home Journal. And although Elvis would have taken the news angrily (there are rumors that he would have wanted to kill Priscilla’s lover), they ended up maintaining a friendly and close relationship in order to raise their daughter.
With this first clash of reactions between Priscilla and those responsible for Elvis’ estate surrounding the film, we could be witnessing another rift in the relationship. Because let’s not forget that in May of this year those same officials decided to deny Priscilla’s request to be buried at Graceland alongside her daughter Lisa Marie – who died of a heart attack last January – and her ex-husband.
When Priscilla finally describes the various episodes that Elvis experienced together, both the good and the bad, that occur in the book and highlights the age difference, then it is likely to open up conversation, debate and controversy that ranges from the modern Views of the world are a love story between a teenager and a famous adult. And that first hint of a disagreement is likely the first expression of the media conflict that could be about to happen. Especially if we take into account the interest the singer’s character arouses in all generations since the 2022 hit of Elvis, which grossed $288 million and received eight Oscar nominations (although he didn’t win any).
This article was written exclusively for Yahoo en Español by Cine54.
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