On the heels of Baz Luhrmann’s lavish Elvis biopic, Priscilla Presley becomes the star of the show in a new film by Sofia Coppola. The subject of the film watched it at the Venice International Film Festival and offered high praise for Coppola. Now, audiences can get even more excited for its upcoming theatrical release with an all-new trailer, though this one shows the more chilling content the movie will touch upon.
Priscilla is based on the Naked Gun star’s 1985 memoir, Elvis and Me and stars Cailee Spaeny in the titular role, opposite Jacob Elordi as Elvis Presley. While Luhrmann’s Elvis-centric biopic, starring Austin Butler and Olivia DeJonge, focused on the “Hound Dog” singer’s rise to fame through the eyes of Colonel Tom parker, Priscilla follows along the famous couple’s relationship from her perspective, emphasizing her youth compared to his own matured age and the whirlwind nature their dynamic took on.
The new ‘Priscilla’ trailer shows the darker side of the glitzy relationship
The full Priscilla trailer puts an emphasis on the messy relationship between Elvis and Priscilla, starting with the age difference between the two; she was just 14 when they first crossed paths. New footage shows Priscilla’s father asking, “Just what is the intent here, Mr. Presley? You’ve got women throwing themselves at you. Why my daughter?”
RELATED: Priscilla Presley Thought Elvis Presley Was ‘Gross’ Before They Eventually Met
To this, Elvis is seen responding, “Well sir, I happen to be very fond of your daughter. She’s much more mature than her age.” But the trailer then shows the situation dissolving in overt and subtle ways for her, with Elvis instructing her on how to dye her hair or what makeup to wear. All the while, as Priscilla actually matures, she is seen wanting to exercise authority over herself; the trailer acts as an exploration of a young girl discovering her own autonomy in adulthood.
Actor and subject discuss the topic
The relationship between Priscilla and Elvis has been a subject of fascination for generations, even after the King’s death in ’77. Among the many different depictions, Priscilla had nothing but positive words for Coppola’s presentation.
“Sofia did an amazing job, she did her homework,” she praised. “I really put everything out for her that I could.”
Then there’s Spaeny, charged with bringing Priscilla’s truth and Coppola’s vision to life. She has voiced enthusiasm and interest in the subject matter – even though the project made for a very peculiar work day. “I’d be 14 in the morning and then 27, with a toddler, at the end of the day,” shared Spaeny, who won best actress at the Venice Film Festival. “It was crazy, but the arc of the character became clearer when I saw what I was wearing in the scene.
But even stranger than this kind of work schedule was watching the movie with the real Dallas star herself. “I think the thing that was most touching to me, also terrifying [was] to be watching the movie with Priscilla Presley right next to me” said Spaeny. “But at the end, I think she felt really moved by it. She looked at me and she said, ‘That was a great performance,’ and that was the first time hearing that, which was — it’s just been absolutely surreal.”
Priscilla releases in the United States on November 3. In the meantime, check out the trailer below!