Ever since fans got to see Austin Butler take on the titular role of the legendary singer Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis,” they’ve been dying to stream the movie at home. After hearing Butler’s voice transformation in interviews, seeing him pose with Priscilla Presley at the Met Gala, and watching him emulate Elvis Presley’s signature dance moves, who can blame them for wanting to be able to watch the film over and over (… and over) again. Well, lucky for them, “Elvis” is officially streaming on HBO Max as of Sept. 2.
The movie focuses on the story of Elvis and his deceitful manager, Colonel Tom Parker, played by Tom Hanks, as well as Elvis’s relationship with Priscilla, played by Olivia DeJonge. A signature Luhrmann fever dream, “Elvis” is campy, overwhelming, and full of excess in everything from the costumes to the cinematography.
While it’s lots of fun, such an over-the-top representation of a true story doesn’t always tell the whole truth. Some inaccuracies are pretty clear (like, obviously Doja Cat’s music didn’t exist in the 1950s), while other parts are hard to recognize unless you’re super familiar with Elvis’s story. That’s why experts on Elvis are clarifying what the movie got wrong — and what really happened. Ahead, find out the truth about Parker, Elvis, and Priscilla’s marriage, and, of course, whether Elvis really fired his long-time manager in an onstage rant.