Filming on Baz Luhrmann's Elvis to begin in Australia on 23 September

Warner Bros. has announced that principal photography will start on 23 September in Queensland on director Baz Luhrmann’s musical drama about the life of the iconic performer.

Cameras are set to roll after a hiatus of nearly six months, during which Tom Hanks, who plays Presley’s manager Colonel Tom Parker, contracted Covid-19.

Luhrmann (pictured) said in a statement: “We’re back to, as Elvis liked to say, ‘taking care of business!’ It is a real privilege in this unprecedented global moment that Tom Hanks has been able to return to Australia to join Austin Butler [who plays Elvis] and all of our extraordinary cast and crew to commence production on ‘Elvis.’

“I cannot emphasize enough how lucky we feel in the current climate that the state of Queensland, and Queenslanders in general, have been so supportive of this film.

“We thank our partners in the Queensland Government and Queensland Health for their extremely diligent process, so that we can be an example how creativity and productivity can proceed safely and responsibly in a way that protects our team and the community at large. We are all excited to start working with Tom Hanks when he is out of quarantine in two weeks.”

Queensland is a key Australian production hub, with Village Roadshow Studios – the base for the Elvis project – having recently hosted large-scale movies including Godzilla vs Kong, Aquaman and Thor: Ragnarok.  

Luhrmann’s film is supported by Screen Queensland and the Producer Offset scheme.

Image: Hugh Stewart - © 2013 Bazmark Film III Pty Limited.