Kelvin Harrison Jr., best known as Fred Hampton in Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7, has landed the role of Blues Icon B.B. King in the upcoming Elvis film from director Baz Luhrmann. In March, the film production was halted for a six-month shutdown after star Tom Hanks, who plays Elvis’ manager Colonel Tom tested positive for COVID-19. The production has resumed filming in September. Luhrmann and Craig Pearce wrote the script of the film. They have worked on several movies together.
The film examines the complicated dynamic between Presley (Austin Butler) and the mysterious Parker that has spanned more than 20 years, from Presley’s rise to fame to his historic stardom, against the backdrop of the shifting cultural environment and the lock of innocence in American. Priscilla Presley (Olivia DeJonge) is one of the most important and influential women in the life of Elvis.
Luke Bracey (Point Break), Dacre Montgomery (Stranger Things), David Wenham (Lord of the Rings Trilogy), Richard Roxburgh (Moulin Rouge!), Kate Mulvany (The Great Gatsby), Leon Ford (The Light Between Oceans), and Helen Thomson (Kangaroo Jack) are also starring in the film.
Harrison Jr. recently starred in The Photograph and The High Note. He is also set to star in Cyrano, MGM’s musical film adaptation of the Off-Broadway play with Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) that follows Cyrano de Bergerac’s life written in 1897 by playwright Edmond Rostand.