Sydney, Australia – A new cinematic experience featuring Elvis Presley is set to electrify screens next week. Elvis Presley: In Concert, directed by Baz Luhrmann, promises a unique look at the King’s career.
A Lost Archive Brought to Life
Elvis Presley: In Concert isn’t just a re-release; it’s a resurrection of unseen footage. Luhrmann and his team embarked on a remarkable search through the Warner Bros. film vaults, located in the salt mines of Kansas, initially seeking material for the 2022 Austin Butler and Tom Hanks-starring biopic. What they unearthed was a treasure trove: 69 boxes of film negatives containing nearly 60 hours of previously unseen footage, alongside audio recordings of Elvis discussing his creative process.
The team meticulously used lip-reading techniques to synchronize the audio with the visual material, aided by over 2,300 rolls of archive material provided by Warner Bros. The resulting film explores Elvis’s ascent into Hollywood stardom following his service in the U.S. army, a period marked by both Beatlemania and growing anti-Vietnam War protests.
At a special preview screening at the IMAX theatre in Sydney, Australia, Luhrmann described the film as “the most unexpected film that ever happened to me.” He explained their approach: “We thought ‘let’s just get out of the way … What if Elvis just told you his story?’”. Luhrmann also emphasized that no artificial intelligence was used in the creation of the film.
“There’s no visual effect either … it’s the visual effect Elvis has on his audience — that’s the only visual effect in this film,” Luhrmann stated.
A “Dreamscape” Experience
Luhrmann, in a director’s note, clarified that Elvis Presley: In Concert defies easy categorization. “What if Elvis came to you in a dreamscape, almost like a cinematic poem, and sang to you and told you his story in a way in which you haven’t experienced before?” he wrote, envisioning a truly immersive experience.
The film’s soundtrack will feature performances by Elvis himself, drawn from his Vegas shows, tours, and rehearsals. It will also include classic recordings from his catalog and iconic cover songs.
Luhrmann paid tribute to Elvis’s openness, describing him as “really unguarded” and “really open-hearted.”
The trailer for Elvis Presley: In Concert was released last month.
