Maggie Gyllenhaal has landed the role of Elvis Presley’s beloved mother Gladys Presley, in Baz Lurhmann’s upcoming biopic on the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
Gyllenhaal joins Tom Hanks, who will play the role of Elvis’ manager, Colonel Tom Parker. ‘Once Upon A Tim in Hollywood’ actor, Austin Butler has landed the role of Elvis. Plot details are vague but the story is set to focus on Presley’s relationship with his famed manager Colonel Tom Parker.
Luhrmann will direct from a script he co-wrote with Craig Pearce.
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Throughout Presley’s life, Glady’s was his rock, dotting on his mother until the day she died. He always classed his mother as his ‘number one girl’. The pair were so close, Glady’s even suffered from depression and a drinking problem because of his absence while touring.
Nicknamed the Carni, Parker became the Dutch-born manager of Elvis after spotting his talent whilst still virtually unknown. From his carnival background, Parker moved into music promotion, earning the courtesy rank of ‘Colonel’ from a grateful singer Jimmie Davis. Parker skillfully manoeuvred himself into position as Elvis’s sole representative with control over much of his private life. Within months, he had won Presley a recording contract with the prestigious RCA Victor record label, made him a star with his first single Heartbreak Hotel, negotiated lucrative merchandising deals, made plans for TV appearances as well as a new career as an actor in film musicals. He basically owned Presley.
Gyllenhaal was last seen in Netflix’s ‘The Kindergarten Teacher’ and HBO series ‘The Deuce’.
