Elordi’s portrayal in “Priscilla” resonates with the King’s flair. His study of Elvis’s persona influenced Elordi’s every move. The distinct swagger, the crooned dialogue—Elordi channeled Elvis, ensuring that his influence was felt in every scene. Elordi’s performance is a true testament to Elvis’s enduring legacy.
Jacob Elordi, known for his role in Euphoria, is set to play the iconic Elvis Presley in the upcoming Sofia Coppola film “Priscilla,” which is scheduled to release on November 3. During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the 26-year-old actor shared an interesting tidbit about his Elvis awareness while growing up.
Host Jimmy Fallon inquired, “Growing up, were you an Elvis fan?” To this, Elordi candidly replied, “No. The most I knew of Elvis was in Lilo & Stitch … which is a lot, by the way.”
In the 2002 animated Disney film “Lilo & Stitch,” the character Lilo introduces her alien friend Stitch to the music of Elvis Presley, with several of his famous songs featured on the soundtrack. The movie was written and directed by Christopher Sanders and Dean DeBlois.
For the 20th anniversary of “Lilo & Stitch,” Dean DeBlois mentioned that they initially doubted whether they could use Elvis’s music or depict him in the film. However, representatives of the Elvis estate supported the project and even held a premiere at Graceland, providing the filmmakers with a special tour of Elvis’s vault, which included his famous rhinestone jumpsuits.
Before his role as Elvis in “Priscilla,” Jacob Elordi had expressed his growing interest in the legendary figure. In an interview with GQ in August 2022, he mentioned buying Peter Guralnick’s Presley biography, “Last Train to Memphis,” after seeing the trailer for Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis movie.
Elordi revealed, “I was just like, damn, Elvis Presley wanted to be James Dean. He wanted to be Marlon Brando. I’ve researched almost every actor from that time period, and I passed [Elvis] off as an entertainer and singer.” He continued, “But then he was an actor. I guess, in a way, I’m trying to learn from these people.”
In the same interview, Elordi related a quote from an old Elvis interview in which Elvis expressed exhaustion and a lack of sleep. Elordi recognized the same feelings in himself, despite the different time periods and experiences, emphasizing the shared challenges of stardom.
With his role as Elvis Presley in “Priscilla,” Jacob Elordi is set to bring the legendary figure to life on the big screen, offering a fresh perspective on the iconic singer and actor.
