Director Baz Luhrmann has discovered his Elvis Presley as Austin Butler has been selected for the starring role in the upcoming biopic. Currently untitled, Baz Luhrmann’s film will examine Presley’s rag to riches life and his complicated relationship with Colonel Tom Parker who will be portrayed by Tom Hanks. According to Deadline, the film will commence shooting early next year in Queensland, Australia with Warner Bros Pictures serving as the primary distributor.

The pursuit for the role of Presley proved to be no easy task. Butler faced competition from Ansel Elgort, Miles Teller and Harry Styles and unseated all three actors. According to Luhrmann, Butler tested positively in the audition with the director stating that the actor was selected for his potential to take the next step in his career.

Butler made his Broadway debut last year in the George C. Wolfe helm adaptation of Eugene O’Neill’s The Iceman Cometh. His portrayal of Don Parritt met critical acclaim. Butler has a pending role opposite of Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt in this month’s Once Upon a Time In Hollywood. Butler will also star alongside Bill Murray and Adam Driver in The Dead Don’t Die. The untitled Elvis Presley biopic does not have a release date.