Maggie Gyllenhaal is set to play Gladys Presley, the Rock and Roll star’s mother, in Baz Luhrmann‘s upcoming musical drama and biopic Elvis. Gyllenhaal’s past notable features include Sherrybaby (2006) and Secretary (2002) where she earned Golden Globes nominations for both movies, and earned an Oscar nomination for her supporting role in Crazy Heart (2009), starring alongside Jeff Bridges. She recently appeared in Netflix’s The Kindergarten Teacher.
Elvis will portray the complex, dynamic relationship between iconic singer Elvis Presley and his mother. The American music icon has stated multiple times during his career that he was very close to his mother, calling her his number one girl. The biopic will portray Presley’s rise to stardom, the constantly shifting cultural landscape during the 50’s, and Gladys’ struggle with depression due to his time away from home.
Elvis will also reveal other crucial figures in Presley’s life, including his veteran manager Colonel Tom Parker, who had a complicated relationship with the star. It has been confirmed that Austin Butler will play the titular character and two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks will play his manager.
The famously unconventional, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Luhrmann most recently worked on a Netflix series titled The Get Down, but Elvis would be his first film since the 2013 adaptation of The Great Gatsby. Other notable projects include Moulin Rouge! (2001) and Romeo + Juliet (1996). For Elvis, Luhrmann co-wrote the script with Craig Pearce. The release date is unknown for now, although production is expected to start this spring.
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