Odds to Play Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s Biopic: Harry Styles Listed as Favorite, Miles Teller Given 5-2 Odds

• Director Baz Luhrmann readying his next production, an Elvis Presley biopic
• Luhrmann’s rich catalog of music-infused films makes this a role many in Hollywood are vying for
• With so many young stars in the running for the coveted role of Elvis, who is the best bet?

We’ve seen Joaquin Phoenix do Johnny Cash, Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles, and recently Taron Egerton as Elton John. Musical biopics are big business in Hollywood.

Given the critical and box office successes of these and so many other films, it makes complete sense that the big screen awaits one of the biggest musical stars of all time: Elvis Presley.

Who Will Play Elvis Presley in the New Baz Luhrmann Biopic?

*Odds taken 07/03/19

You’d have to be nothing but a hound dog if you didn’t see this one coming. We’ve already seen lesser musical success stories (Here’s looking at you The Runaways) brought to the silver screen, so it makes complete sense that Elvis get his turn. It’s almost shocking that The King hasn’t been given the proper biopic treatment yet.

Given Elvis’ enduring pop cultural presence even 40 something years after his untimely death, he’s left some unbelievably big blue suede shoes to fill. So it makes sense that the competition to cast the role of Elvis would be fierce.

Director Baz Luhrmann–the mind behind famed films such as Moulin Rouge and The Great Gatsby— would be behind the camera for this big moment in Hollywood history. But given his sparse catalog and unpredictable casting choices, it makes it tough to imagine who will end up as the title role here.

Looking for Elvis ? pic.twitter.com/mO6bwxfzOv

— Baz Luhrmann (@bazluhrmann) April 30, 2019

Former One Direction band member and current solo success story Harry Styles is a front runner, and it makes sense why. He’s handsome, suave, and charming– all attributes the young Elvis Presley had in spades. He also has the musical chops to carry Presley’s familiar cornucopia of hits.

But even if Styles is an obvious pick, he’s not the only option. Miles Teller, who has musical experience behind the drum kit in the Hollywood hit Whiplash, doesn’t necessarily have the vocal chops. But then again, that didn’t stop Rami Malek from playing Freddie Mercury.

Styles is handsome, suave, and charming– all attributes the young Elvis Presley had in spades. He also has the musical chops to carry Presley’s familiar hits.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson is also in the running and could make a fine Elvis, but given that he’s already played John Lennon, he seems unlikely. And Ansel Elgort, a favorite who dazzled in the music-centric Baby Driver and a quasi-successful musician in his own right, may also do well in the role.

But when you picture a big movie billboard overlooking Santa Monica Boulevard advertising Elvis’ life on the screen, Styles makes the most sense.

He’s a big, exciting star at the moment, we already know he dazzles on the big screen (like his screen-stealing moment in Dunkirk), and he has the same star quality Elvis possessed. Luhrmann would be all shook up to not give it to him.

Pick: Harry Styles (+140)