Way back in 2014, the news arrived that Baz Luhrmann, fresh off of The Great Gatsby, was seriously considering making a biopic about Elvis Presley. That never came to pass at the time (Luhrmann instead focused on Netflix series The Get Down), but it has remained bubbling in the development pot for him. And it's moving forward, as Variety reports that Tom Hanks is now on board to play Presley's iconic manager Colonel Tom Parker.
Parker discovered Presley when he was just an unknown and quickly moved in as his lone representation. The canny manager was responsible for various milestones, including Presley’s record deal with RCA and his successful acting career.
While Saving Mr. Banks' Kelly Marcel worked on the script when it was first announced, Luhrmann has long since taken over that job, sharing writing chores with regular collaborator Craig Pearce. Warner Bros. is still figuring out how much it wants to spend making the movie, but with Hanks' name to bandy about, Luhrmann should now be able to start shooting later this year.
Assuming it works out, this would mark the latest real-life figure for Hanks, who has become a bit of an expert on playing people from the past. He has Mister Rogers film A Beautiful Day In The Neighbourhood due on 6 December. Before that comes World War II drama Greyhound (8 May) and Toy Story 4, which arrives on 21 June.
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