Behind Austin Butler's 4-Hour Transformation For "Elvis" (2023)

FAQs

How much money did Austin Butler make from Elvis? ›

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Austin has $4 million in the bank. Seems like a lot considering he “only” got paid $700,000 for his most famous role—but this could have something to do with the fact that he's starring in the upcoming Dune 2 and presumably commanded a pretty high post-Elvis paycheck.

Butler himself has described the intense filming process that had a lot of focus on nailing Presley's accent, and shared that he's probably damaged his vocal cords from doing the voice so much. His Elvis vocal coach has said Butler's deeper voice at awards shows is just how he sounds now.

Among his preparations included listening to compilations of Presley's voice and laugh. He also listened to his songs for hours and worked on his movement to make his portrayal perfect. Singing coaches also helped him with his transformation.

In order to play Presley, Butler had to use a Tennessee accent as well as his own singing voice for certain performance scenes in the film.

While The Beatles come out on top in the U.S., the true best-selling artist of all time would have to be the top-seller all around the world. When figuring sales of singles, EPs and albums worldwide, many historians believe that Elvis is the best-selling artist period.

RCA Records owned all of Elvis' music recordings. The RCA Records Label was bought by BMG in the 1980s and in 2004 BMG merged with Sony Music Entertainment to become Sony BMG. Sony BMG owns Elvis' recordings and they continue to use the RCA Records label for issuing Elvis releases.

The world is full of Elvis Presley impersonators, but only one, Jimmy 'Orion' Ellis, sounded so much like him that people were convinced he actually was Elvis.

But not everything in the film is entirely true to life. Having to compile four decades of life into a 2-hour and 39-minute running time made for many details of Presley's career to be smooshed together, while some were fictionalized entirely for the sake of entertainment.

Elvis Presley was a baritone whose voice had an extraordinary compass — the so-called register — and a very wide range of vocal colour. It covered two octaves and a third, from the baritone low-G to the tenor high B, with an upward extension in falsetto to at least a D flat.

Butler said he got to see Elvis' slippers and his bedroom — "a place that most people never get to see." "She took me up there, and it was — you know, moments like that, we just sat in his bedroom, and up there, he's not Elvis.

How long did it take for Austin Butler to prepare for the Elvis movie? ›

During the second day of shooting the movie, Butler shot his very first performance as Elvis, which happened to be his iconic comeback performance. "It was so nerve-racking because I had a year and a half before that point to prepare.

“We ended up doing that for five months,” he said of the back and forth. “It was unlike any audition. Fortunately, Butler came out on top, but it was a grueling process for him to turn into the “King of Rock and Roll.”

It's been confirmed by both Butler and Luhrmann in a recent interview with the Hollywood Reporter that, yes, it's Austin Butler singing throughout. 30-year Butler described the enormous hours of work he put in to replicate Elvis's legendary vocals.

Elvis loved makeup and he loved how dramatic it made the eyes.…”

His sense of timing and rhythm was second to none'. Elvis was 'the master of a wide and diverse range of vocal styling's and ventriloquistic effects, from the clear tenor of his country-western heroes (Roy Acuff, Eddy Arnold, Jimmie Rodgers) to the exaggerated vibrato of the gospel singers he loved'.

Top-selling artists worldwide as of 2022. Perhaps unsurprisingly, British rock band The Beatles are top of the list for best-selling artists worldwide, with 183 million units certified sales. Second is Garth Brooks with over 157 million units sales, followed by Elvis Presley with 139 million units.

Topping the list is Can't Help Falling In Love, which has notched up 13 million plays. Released in 1961 as a double A-side with Rock-A-Hula-Baby, the song reached Number 1 on the Official Singles Chart and became his signature ballad, closing many of his live performances in the '60s and '70s.

After Minnie Mae's death in 1980, Lisa Marie became the only surviving beneficiary. Lisa Marie inherited Elvis' whole estate on her 25th birthday on February 1, 1993.

Priscilla Presley was making $900,000 a year from Elvis Presley Enterprises despite having no stake in the company, according to a lawsuit.

Royalty rights for 24 Elvis movies were also included. CKX Inc. subsequently sold the estate rights to the intellectual property firm Authentic Brands Group for $145 million. In 2020, one Presley executive told Rolling Stone that the Presley estate was worth around $400 or $500 million.

Who will own Graceland now? ›

A representative of Graceland told People that the property will now be passed on to Lisa Marie's three daughters, Riley, Harper and Finley.

But one of the most curious aspects of Elvis' awards season run is the fact that Austin Butler is still talking like Elvis Presley in his daily life. Butler himself joked about it in his monologue when he hosted Saturday Night Live in December—after which he nevertheless continued to talk like Elvis.

Even when he's not on stage, Shawn Klush speaks with Elvis Presley's unmistakable drawl. The Pennsylvania native is so convincing as his hero, the BBC named him the World's Greatest Elvis. We asked him what it's like to become—not just impersonate—the King of Rock 'n' Roll.

JD King is one of the world's most famous and award-winning Elvis impersonators. He has built an amazing reputation with his electrifying tribute show – gaining dozens of 5-star reviews from both professional publications and direct verified customers.

The late King of Rock and Roll's ex-wife, 76, gave the film, titled Elvis, her seal of approval, raving about Luhrmann's vision and Austin Butler's performance as the titular rock legend after she was treated to a private screening.

Overall, although Elvis was hard to watch at times, Priscilla loved the film. And she thinks the King himself would've approved, too. “It was perfection,” she told Good Morning America in June. “This is a movie he really would have loved, showing who he was, what he was striving for, what his dreams were.”

The Presley family has been outspoken about their support for Elvis and Butler's portrayal. Lisa Marie and Priscilla both previously shared how emotional the film has made them. Writing on Instagram last month, Lisa Marie said, "If Butler does not win an Oscar for the role, I will eat my own foot.

He pointed out that despite an impressive vocal range of two and a half octaves and something approaching perfect pitch, Elvis was perfectly willing to sing off-key when he thought the song required it.

While he couldn't read or write music and had no formal lessons, he was a natural musician and played everything by ear. He could often hear a song, pick up an instrument, and play. He often played an instrument in his recordings, and always produced his own music.

Lady Gaga is a great example of a mezzo-soprano. Her timbre is feminine, but slightly darker and more sensitive and mature than a typical lyric soprano. Despite her good technique, Gaga rarely enters the upper 5th octave.

Will Lisa Marie be buried at Graceland? ›

The estate is one of the most visited homes in the U.S., second to the White House. Lisa Marie Presley, 54, will be buried in Graceland. The funeral will take place next Sunday, alongside her father and son, Benjamin, 27, who passed away in 2020.

"We added jaw prosthetics when he got older to harden his jawline a little bit and make it more pronounced," Thomas says. The most drastic change comes when they jump to 1977.

When Austin first got the role, Vanessa was at the front lines supporting her boyfriend at the time. Vanessa took to Instagram to share her super supportive reaction: “I AMMMM OVERRRR THE F–KING MOOOOOOOOONNNNN,” she wrote in a caption.

Austin Butler Said He Didn't See His Family For Three Years While Preparing For “Elvis” Months After Recalling How Baz Luhrmann Left Him “In Tears” When He Humiliated Him On Set. “method acting has done irreversible damage to hollywood actors.”

Austin Butler has revealed the extreme lengths he went to during the filming of Baz Luhrmann's Elvis, admitting he didn't see his family for three years. "During Elvis, I didn't see my family for about three years," the actor told Variety. "I was off in New York prepping with Baz, and then I went to Australia.

In an interview on the Graham Norton Show which aired on Friday, February 3, 2023, Butler said he was still in the process of shedding the accent. “I am getting rid of the accent, but I have probably damaged my vocal cords with all that singing,” he said. “One song took 40 takes!”

Since late 2021, Butler has been in a relationship with model Kaia Gerber.

In a red carpet interview with La La Anthony for Vogue, the accent was noticeable. His typically deep voice this time bore a lethargic Southern drawl, which is unusual for Butler, who was born and raised in Southern California, far from Presley's Memphis.

The always image-conscious Elvis was embarrassed about a gap in his teeth, and had a crown fitted by his Memphis dentist Henry Weiss.

What Colour is Elvis Presley's eyes? While his gorgeous locks of jet-black hair that perfectly complement Elvis Presley's eye color of striking ice blue helped him seduce any woman possible, it's surprising to know that The King of Rock' n' Roll was actually born a natural blonde.

How does Austin Butler sound so much like Elvis? ›

Why does he still sound like Elvis? Dr Bartlett said Butler spent years forming a "connection" with the character he was expected to play. "Because of COVID shutdowns he was working on it all the time, and it's difficult to switch off something you've spent so much focus time on," she said.

Who was Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's manager who allegedly stole over half of his millions? Inside their controversial connection, depicted in Baz Luhrmann's new biopic.

“Don't criticize what you don't understand, son. You never walked in that man's shoes.” - Elvis often used this adaptation of a well-known quotation.

Meanwhile, Austin's co-star Tom Hanks is thought to have earnt a whopping $8million [£6.6million] for his role as Elvis' manager, Colonel Tom Parker.

These deals generated a lot of money. Elvis would get $130,000 for a one night performance, he could received $1million for a movie deal and $250,000 to do a recording session. All financial decisions were made by the Colonel.

Priscilla Presley was making $900,000 a year from Elvis Presley Enterprises despite having no stake in the company, according to a lawsuit.

At the time of Elvis' death in 1977, his estate was worth about $5 million (roughly $25.4 million in today's dollars).

More still went to RCA records, sole owner of all of Elvis' music before 1973, thanks to a $5.4-million deal Parker arranged in that year. It is a deal that severed the Presley estate from the royalties for more than 700 songs and put $2.6 million in the colonel's pocket.

Lisa Marie Presley retains 100% sole personal ownership of Graceland Mansion itself and its over 13-acre original grounds and her father's personal effects - meaning costumes, wardrobe, awards, furniture, cars, etc.. She has made the mansion property and her father's personal effects permanently available for tours of ...

In his will, Elvis had named Vernon executor of the estate and Lisa Marie his sole heir. Two years later, Vernon's will passed the responsibility to Priscilla and Hanks, along with the National Bank of Commerce in Memphis.

How much did Lisa Marie inherit from Elvis? ›

Due to his years of excessive spending and being bilked by his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis' estate was worth $5 million at the time of his death, with just $1 million dedicated to Lisa Marie before the deaths of Vernon and Minnie Mae.

Eager to find a rural refuge away from wild fans and the pressure of fame, 22-year-old Elvis Presley purchased his Graceland estate on March 19, 1959, for $102,500 — or more than $900,000 in today's money. The property came with its famous moniker already in place.

The mansion and property were acquired by Elvis Presley for $100,000 in 1957. The estate was estimated to be worth between $400 to $500 million in 2020 according to Rolling Stone.

Elvis Presley's iconic Memphis, Tenn. mansion, Graceland, will stay in the Presley family. Following the death of Lisa Marie Presley on Thursday, the property, which is in a trust, will benefit Lisa Marie's three daughters, Riley, Harper and Finley, a representative for Graceland confirms to PEOPLE.

CKX Inc. subsequently sold the estate rights to the intellectual property firm Authentic Brands Group for $145 million. In 2020, one Presley executive told Rolling Stone that the Presley estate was worth around $400 or $500 million.

1. Hound Dog (1956) Controversial in its day, “Hound Dog” is now considered one of the biggest influences on the rock 'n' roll genre, and was Presley's biggest selling single, spending a recording-setting 11 weeks at number one in 1956 – a record which stood for 36 years.