Members of Elvis Presley’s estate reacted with disgust to the new Sofia Copolla-directed biography about Priscilla Presley and her relationship with the ‘King of Rock n’ Roll’.
Officials linked to the estate said “Priscilla” was produced without the family’s knowledge or permission and ripped up the film on the grounds that it “feels like a college movie.”
They rip up the film as yet another heist by Priscilla Presley, who has publicly feuded with her granddaughter over control of parts of the estate of Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis, who died unexpectedly in January 2023.
Written and directed by Sofia Coppola, “Pricilla” is based on Priscilla’s famous 1985 memoir “Elvis and Me,” which tells the story of the legendary couple’s early romance.
The real Elvis and Priscilla Presley on their wedding night in 1967. Their romance will be starring in the upcoming movie Priscilla.
Sofia Coppola wrote and directed the upcoming biopic, starring Jacob Elordi and Cailee Spaeny
Euphoria’s Jacob Elordi will take on the role of Elvis, and Cailee Spaeny, who starred in The Mare of Easttown, will take on the title role.
According to TMZ, a person connected to the estate reportedly saw the film and called Copolla’s writing and direction “terrible.”
They added the entire production felt “like a college movie.”
“The sets are just awful, Graceland doesn’t look like that,” they said.
Priscilla herself sees the film differently.
“I am very much looking forward to the interpretation of my book by the masterful Sofia Coppola. She has such an extraordinary perspective and I’ve always been a huge admirer of her work.
“I’m sure this film will take everyone on an emotional journey,” said Priscilla, 78.
The film, which will be released in October, follows the love between Elvis and Priscilla, from their first meeting through their marriage in 1967 to their divorce six years later.
The trailer, released five months after the death of the couple’s child, Lisa Marie Presley, showed glimpses of their life together.
The film will also be released just over a year after the debut of Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic and was hailed as a critical and audience success. The film received eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Actor for Austin Butler’s portrayal of the music icon and Best Picture.
Elordi and Spaeny in the trailer for the new film, which will focus on the love story of Elvis and Priscilla. The film drew harsh criticism from some associated with the Elvis estate.
The book is based on Priscilla’s 1985 memoir, Elvis and Me. An insider at the Elvis estate said, “The sets are just awful, that’s not what Graceland looks like.”
The film will be released in October, more than a year after the premiere of Baz Luhrmann’s best-selling Elvis biopic
Elvis and Priscilla with their baby daughter Lisa Marie, who died earlier this year at the age of 54
A few days ago, Priscilla settled a dispute over control of her late daughter’s estate, ceding it to her granddaughter, Riley Keough.
In a recently signed settlement, Priscilla, 78, agreed – in exchange for $1.4 million plus an undisclosed sum for 10 years – to relinquish control of her late daughter’s Promenade Trust, leaving behind the 34-year-old Riley, the star of the TV series “Davy Jones and the”. Six, as sole trustee.
Shortly after signing the deal, Priscilla filed a motion asking LA probate judge Lynn Scaduto to seal the financial details of the settlement and keep them private from the public.
“The settlement agreement contains private details of my daughter’s trust to benefit my two teenage granddaughters (14-year-old Harper and Finley, Lisa Marie’s children by her fourth husband Michael Lockwood, 62).”
The agreement between Priscilla and Riley settled an alleged feud between the two that was sparked when Priscilla filed a legal challenge to her daughter’s will – which had given Riley control of the Promenade Trust – just two weeks after Lisa Marie’s death in January .
In the past few days, Priscilla Presley has been resolving a legal matter involving control of her late daughter’s assets. Her granddaughter Riley Keough was given control of the trust, however Priscilla will receive an undisclosed amount annually for the duration of her life
Riley is said to have been furious when her grandmother went to court to protest the will.
But in her application for sealing, Priscilla downplayed the notion of a feud and said she fired the attorneys who filed her application to contest the will.
“My January 2023 petition was misinterpreted in the press as a ‘fight’ for my beloved daughter’s trust,” she wrote. “It wasn’t the intention.” The petition was filed by a law firm that has since closed.
“I submitted the petition to dispel any potential uncertainties surrounding the interpretation of the Promenade Trust.”