Members of Elvis Presley’s estate reacted with disgust to the new Sofia Copolla-directed biopic about Priscilla Presley and her relationship with the ‘King of Rock n’ Roll.’
Officials connected to the estate said ‘Priscilla’ was produced without the knowledge or permission of the family and ripped the film saying ‘feels like a college movie.’
They are ripping the film as yet another cash grab by Priscilla Presley, who has publicly feuded with her granddaughter about control of parts of the estate of Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’ daughter who died unexpectedly in January 2023.
‘Pricilla’ was written and directed by Sofia Coppola and is based on Priscilla’s famous 1985 memoir, ‘Elvis and Me,’ which tells the story of the iconic couple’s early romance.
The real Elvis and Priscilla Presley on their wedding night in 1967. Their romance will be featured in the upcoming film ‘Priscilla’
Sofia Coppola wrote and directed the forthcoming biopic starring Jacob Elordi and Cailee Spaeny
Jacob Elordi of Euphoria will take on the role of Elvis, and Cailee Spaeny, who starred in The Mare of Easttown, assumes the titular role.
One individual connected to the estate reportedly saw the film and described Copolla’s writing and directing as ‘horrible,’ according to TMZ.
They added the whole production ‘feels like a college movie.’
‘The set designs are just horrific, it’s not what Graceland looks like,’ they said.
Priscilla herself, on the other hand, feels differently about the film.
‘I am very excited to see the interpretation of my book by the masterful Sofia Coppola. She has such an extraordinary perspective and I have always been such an admirer of her work.
‘I’m certain this movie will take everyone on an emotional journey,’ said Priscilla, 78.
The film, which is due in October, follows the courtship of Elvis and Priscilla, from the first time they met to their 1967 marriage to their divorce six years later.
The trailer, which was released five months after the passing of the couple’s child, Lisa Marie Presley, showed flashes of their lives together.
The film will also come out a little over a year after Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic debuted and was received as a critical and commercial success. The movie earned eight Oscar nominations, including Best Actor for Austin Butler’s portrayal of the musical icon, and Best Picture.
Elordi and Spaeny in the trailer for the new film, which will concentrate on the love story of Elvis and Priscilla. The film has been slammed by some connected to the Elvis estate.
The book is based on Priscilla’s 1985 memoir ‘Elvis and Me.’ An Elvis estate insider said: ‘The set designs are just horrific, it’s not what Graceland looks like.’
The film will arrive in October, more than a year after Baz Luhrmann’s successful Elvis biopic debuted
Elvis and Priscilla with their young daughter Lisa Marie, who died earlier this year aged 54
Days ago, Priscilla settled a legal battle for control of her late daughter’s estate, ceding to her granddaughter, Riley Keough.
In a recently-signed settlement Priscilla, 78, agreed – in exchange for $1.4 million plus an undisclosed sum for 10 years – to relinquish control of her late daughter’s Promenade Trust, leaving 34-year-old Riley, star of TV’s Davy Jones and the Six, as sole trustee.
Soon after the deal was signed, Priscilla filed a motion asking LA Probate Judge Lynn Scaduto to seal the financial particulars of the settlement, keeping them secret from the public.
‘The settlement agreement contains private details regarding my daughter’s Trust that is to benefit my two minor granddaughters (14-year-old Harper and Finley, Lisa Marie’s children by fourth husband Michael Lockwood, 62).’
The agreement between Priscilla and Riley settled a reported feud between the two sparked when, only two weeks after Lisa Marie’s death in January, Priscilla filed a legal challenge to her daughter’s will – which had given control of the Promenade Trust to Riley.
In recent days, Priscilla Presley settled a legal matter pertaining to control over her late daughter’s trust. Her granddaughter Riley Keough was awarded control of the trust, but Priscilla will be paid an undisclosed amount annually for the duration of her life
Riley was said to be furious when her grandmother went to court to protest the will.
But in her motion to seal, Priscilla downplayed the notion of a feud and said she had fired the lawyers who filed her petition disputing the will.
‘My January 2023 petition was misconstrued in the press as a “fight” over my beloved daughter’s Trust,’ she wrote. ‘That was not the intent. The petition was filed by a law firm who has since been terminated.
‘I filed the petition to resolve all potential uncertainty surrounding the interpretation of the Promenade Trust.’
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