The late Lisa Marie Presley emailed Sofia Coppola several times about what she said was a “shockingly vindictive and contemptuous” portrayal of Elvis Presley in the screenplay for Priscilla, the biopic about her mother Priscilla Presley.
Variety obtained descriptions of two emails Lisa Marie sent to Coppola in September 2022, about four months before she died of an intestinal obstruction on January 12 at age 54.
The film, directed by Coppola, 52, is based on “Elvis and Me,” a memoir written by Priscilla and published in 1985; Coppola co-wrote the script with Priscilla (78) and Sandra Harmon. The film stars Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla and Jacob Elordi as Elvis.
In the emails, Lisa asked Marie Coppola to “reconsider her perception” of how Elvis was portrayed to “spare her family public embarrassment,” Variety reported.
Lisa Marie said in two emails sent four hours apart that the way Elvis was portrayed in the script caused tension in her relationship with Priscilla, the outlet reported, noting The family continues to be affected by the death of their son Benjamin Keough in 2020.
Details: The late Lisa Marie Presley emailed Sofia Coppola several times about what she said was a “shockingly vindictive and contemptuous” portrayal of Elvis Presley in the screenplay for Priscilla, the biopic about her mother Priscilla Presley. Lisa Marie was photographed in LA on January 10, two days before she died at the age of 54
Coppola, 52, co-wrote the script with Priscilla, 78; The couple was photographed in September at the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, where the film premiered
“My father just comes across as predatory and manipulative,” Lisa Marie said in the emails, according to Variety. “As his daughter, I don’t read this and don’t see anything of my father in this character.” I don’t read this and don’t see my mother’s perspective of my father.
“I read this and see your shockingly vindictive and contemptuous view, and I don’t understand why?”
Lisa Marie told Coppola in emails sent before the film began production that she would “speak out against the project and her mother” over the film, Variety reported.
“I will be forced to be in a position where I have to openly say what I think of the film and publicly speak out against you, my mother and this film,” Lisa Marie said in E, verified by the outlet -Mail.
Coppola’s rep shared with Variety the text of a response the director sent to Presley, assuring her that she would handle things carefully.
“I hope that when you see the final film you will think differently and understand that I take great care to honor your mother while portraying your father with sensitivity and complexity,” Coppola said in her email response , the outlet reported.
A source close to the film told Variety that Lisa Marie and Coppola exchanged emails on September 2, 2022, weeks before the film began filming.
The filmmakers went to great lengths to “tone down” certain aspects of the relationship that would have shocked modern audiences, the source said, since Elvis was 24 when he met 14-year-old Priscilla in 1959.
Stars Jacob Elordi and Cailee Spaeny were pictured with Coppola on the film’s set
In the emails, Lisa asked Marie Coppola to “reconsider her vision” about portraying Elvis in order to “spare her family public embarrassment.”
The source said that Coppola’s focus in the film was to portray a “love story” and how Priscilla adjusted to the spotlight amid life with the music icon.
The draft that Lisa Marie read was an early draft, about ten pages longer than the edited final project when the film began filming on October 24, 2022, the source told Variety.
In her emails, Lisa Marie expressed skepticism about how well Priscilla could tell the family story.
“I’m worried that my mom won’t see the nuances here or realize how Elvis will be perceived when this movie comes out,” Lisa Marie said, the outlet reported. “I feel protective of my mother, who has spent her entire life honoring my father’s legacy.”
“I worry that she doesn’t understand the intentions behind this film or the outcome it will have.”
Lisa Marie pointed to Coppola’s shared experience as a member of a famous family, as her father is “The Godfather” filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola.
“I would think of any person that they would understand what that would feel like,” Lisa Marie said. “Why do you come for my father and my family?”
Priscilla Presley and Lisa Marie Presley’s daughter Riley Keough also knew that Lisa Marie had corresponded with Coppola about the film, the source said.
Priscilla has “made it clear in recent months that she and Elvis did not have sexual intimacy when she was 14,” the outlet reported, saying, “She loves the movie.”
Last month, Coppola spoke to Rolling Stone about how the film deals with the age difference between Priscilla and Elvis.
“I try not to judge any of the characters and to show as much compassion as possible to each of them,” Coppola said. “And I really focus on their perspective, but even with the parents, you’re like, ‘How can someone let their child live with Elvis so young?’
Priscilla has “made it clear in recent months that she and Elvis did not have sexual intimacy when she was 14,” the outlet reported, saying, “She loves the movie.”
Lisa Marie, mother of Riley Keough, 34, the late Benjamin Keough, 27, and twins Finley and Harper Lockwood, 15, ended her email to Coppola by saying that one of her younger daughters saw the film is in the works.
“Sofia, I would like to add something,” she said. “I had to explain that we have to endure another blow in our lives.”
“That there’s going to be a movie about her grandfather that’s going to try to make him look really, really bad, but that’s not true.”
She added: “I had to explain that her beloved grandmother supports it.” These two little girls have been through so much in the last seven years, enduring my divorce and the terrible custody battle and then losing their brother. We all drowned.’
Lisa Marie Presley is pictured at a handprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theater commemorating the film Elvis on June 21, 2022 in Hollywood, California
In her emails, Lisa Marie expressed skepticism about how well Priscilla could tell the family story
Lisa Marie told Coppola that the 2022 Baz Luhrmann film Elvis was “a true representation of who he really was” and made his granddaughters “so proud and honored.”
“It made them feel momentarily blessed and less cursed in life,” she said.
Lisa Marie said she couldn’t understand why Coppola felt the need to try to bring down my father after such an incredible film, using the excuse that you’re trying to tell my mother’s story, but from yours very dark and dulled reality.’
“Priscilla” is scheduled to open in theaters nationwide on Friday.
has contacted representatives of Coppola’s estate, Priscilla and Lisa Marie for comment. A representative for Coppola said they had no further comment on the story.