Of course, we all knew that “Bohemian Rhapsody” would just kick-start a whirlwind of Hollywood rock biopics.
Tom Hanks is in negotiations to play Elvis Presley’s manager Colonel Tom Parker. Baz Luhrmann is set to direct the biopic about Presley, which is from a script by “Fifty Shades of Grey” scribe Kelly Marcel.
Wait? What?! Baz Luhrmann? He hasn’t directed a feature-length film since 2013’s “The Great Gatsby.” Before that he had a time-capsule-worthy bomb titled “Australia”? Remember that one? Luhrmann’s claim to fame will always be 2001’s “Moulin Rouge” a frenetic and daring musical that took so many risks, but worked, for the most part. Also, to Gen X-ers at least, 1996’s “Romeo & Juliet” is some kind of classic, maybe the first time Leonardo DiCaprio was noticed by the mainstream before being catapulted to fame the following year with “Titanic.” The last we heard from Luhrmann was when he directed the two seasons from the 2016-2017 Netlfix series “The Get Down,” which was about the beginnings of disco.
According to Variety, Luhrmann wants a newcomer for the role of Presley and he has begun the casting process. The hope is for the as-of-yet-untitled film to start shooting this year.