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You Won’t Believe Which Pop Star Could Play Elvis in Baz Luhrmann’s New Biopic

There’s a new King in town! Well, sort of. Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Presley movie is currently casting, and there are not one but four possible contenders to play the rock ‘n roll icon. But before we get to who’ll play Elvis, here’s a bit of casting news sure to pique your interest about this upcoming biopic. Tom Hanks has already signed on for the project to play Col. Tom Parker, the manager who infamously controlled pretty much every major aspect of Elvis’s life.

So, who are the contenders vying for the coveted lead role? Per Deadline, Luhrmann has been testing a top group of young talent for the part: Ansel Elgort (The Fault in Our Stars, Baby Driver), Miles Teller (Whiplash, The Spectacular Now), Austin Butler (The Carrie Diaries, The Shannara Chronicles), and Harry Styles (from Dunkirk and, yes, One Direction). Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass, Nocturnal Animals) also tested for the role of Elvis but no longer seems to be in top contention for the part.

As for when we’ll find out which actor got the gig, Luhrmann is expected to make a decision by next week. Since all the contenders duking it out can sing, the playing field is relatively level.

It goes without saying that this would be a dream role for any young performer and could be the role-of-a-lifetime for the less-experienced actors in the running. The film, which was written by Luhrmann and Craig Pearce, will follow the rags-to-riches rise of young Elvis — as well as the allegedly parasitic nature of his relationship with Parker, who allegedly kept half of Presley’s earnings for himself.

Hanks as the villain of a movie? Yes, please! We can’t wait to see how the casting for the rest of Luhrmann’s biopic shakes out.

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