Priscilla (2023)

Noami Herbert comments on the hype surrounding the newest cinematic release, Priscilla.

Image Credit: AP

The upcoming film Priscilla (2023) tells the story of a young Priscilla Beau- lieu, and how her life changed when she met Elvis. With the film “Elvis” being just released last year, Priscilla may seem just to be another film in the realm of celebrity biopics, but in actuality, it approaches the topic differently. Based on Priscillas biography “Elvis and Me,” director Sofia Coppola covers the reality of the relationship.

Being released by A24 & directed by Sofia Coppola, fans of both the director and company are excited for the release. Some people aren’t as interested, though; one of those is Elvis’ estate. When the first trailer was released, an unnamed official from Elvis’ estate reportedly told TMZ that “Priscilla was produced without the estate’s knowledge or consent,” and that it was supposedly “another Priscilla money grab”. With the film going in depth about the controversial relationship between Priscilla and Elvis, as well as the recent mishaps that went on with Priscilla and the estate, it makes more sense as to why the film seems to be so controversial within the estate.

Unlike the others at the estate, Priscilla Presley praises the movie, stating on her Instagram, “I am excited about 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.” Priscilla is also listed as an executive producer for the film, likely because of its inspiration from her biography, “Elvis and Me”.

Despite the reaction from Elvis’ estate, It seems that Priscilla herself as well as the general public is excited for the film’s release, having a metascore of 82, a 93% on rotten tomatoes, as well as already being on more than 11 thousand watchlists on the movie reviewing app “Letterboxd”.