Baz Luhrmann to direct Elvis Presley biopic

Baz Luhrmann will reportedly direct a forthcoming Elvis Presley biopic.

Warner Bros. secured the rights to Presley’s music catalogue, Saving Mr. Banks screenwriter Kelly Marcel is penning the script, Gail Berman (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) is producing through her Tecumseh Productions company, and Andrew Mittman (The Addams Family) is executive producing. Australian production designer Catherine Martin, a four-time Oscar winner (and Luhrmann’s wife), will also join the project. Martin is renowned for her work on Luhrmann’s films The Great Gatsby, Romeo + Juliet, Australia and Moulin Rouge.

Although Warner Bros. are yet to release an official statement confirming the deal, Hollywood news website The Wrap alleges the studio and the aforementioned producers have been in negotiations with Luhrmann for several weeks.

The script is said be entirely original with no content taken from any past biographical works.

Luhrmann’s most recent project, his revival of Strictly Ballroom The Musical, is currently running at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre. He’s also said to be in talks to adapt ‘70s martial arts Western TV show Kung Fu, which had a three-season run from 1972-1975, and is working with HBO on a miniseries about Napoleon.