Director reveals why Harry Styles didn't land the role of Elvis Presley
The role went to Austin Butler
Last updated 8th Jun 2022
Biopic films are increasingly growing in popularity, bringing the amazing careers of musicians onto the big screen, and the King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley is no exception. A film about the music legend is currently in the works, and it turns out Harry Styles auditioned to play Elvis but sadly didn't get the part. The film's director Baz Luhrmann has now explained why he didn't cast the 'As It Was' singer.
The sought-after role was given to American actor Austin Butler after an intensive audition process and Baz revealed that: "Harry is a really talented actor. I would work on something with him but the real issue with Harry is, he's Harry Styles. He's already an icon."
As well as being the incredible singer we all know and love, Harry has put a lot of time into his acting career in recent years, and he even has two films coming out this year. Watch out for him in My Policeman and Don't Worry Darling!
Baz Luhrmann also told Nova Radio in Sydney: "Harry and I came to a place, genuinely I mean, he was just desperate to put the suit on and explore. He's such a great spirit and I have nothing but great things to say about Harry Styles."
Watch the trailer for Elvis:
Harry has also previously explained why he wanted to play the role of Elvis, saying: "Elvis was probably the first person I knew besides my family when I was a kid.
"For that reason, there was something incredibly sacred surrounding him, so I thought I should try to get the part."
Although he must've been disappointed to not get the role, he added: "I was very intrigued by it… I feel like if a director feels like I'm not the best person for the role then it's better for them and it's better for me.
"If they think the movie's going to be better with someone else then I don't want to do it because I don't want to be the not-as-good version."
Elvis is set to hit cinemas on 24th June.
Take a look through some of Harry Styles' biggest moments:
Early life
Harry was brought up in the beautiful village of Holmes Chapel in Cheshire, 21 miles south of Manchester. Harry's mum is Anne Cox, his dad is Des Styles, and his stepdad was Robin Twist who sadly passed away in 2017. Harry's sister Gemma is three years older than him, and works as a model and journalist, and their step-brother Mike Twist is Robin's son from a previous relationship.
2010: The X Factor
Harry auditioned for the seventh series of The X Factor as a solo artist, singing a version of Steve Wonder's 'Isn't She Lovely'. Harry made it to Boot Camp on his own but failed to make it to Judges' Houses. Therefore, he and four other boys who didn't make the cut were put together as a group - and the rest is history!
Harry, along with Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and the late Liam Payne, reached the final of The X Factor as One Direction and finished in third place.
2011-2015: One Direction – the world’s biggest boyband
After releasing their first single 'That's What Makes You Beautiful' back in 2011, the boys quickly started to take over the world. Harry and the 1D boys went on to enjoy huge success, winning over 200 awards including seven BRIT Awards and four MTV Video Music Awards.
One Direction achieved four UK Number 1 albums and one Top 5 album throughout their time together, along with four UK Number 1 singles and five UK Top 10 singles which spent an incredible 56 weeks in the Top 10 from 2011-2015. Harry and the 1D boys released four albums as a five-piece - 'Up All Night', 'Take Me Home', 'Midnight Memories' and 'Four'.
2015: One Direction's extended hiatus
In 2015, Zayn announced he was leaving the band and Harry, Niall, Louis and Liam made the decision to carry on as a four-piece. Harry and the boys then released album 'Made in the A.M.' which included 'Drag Me Down', 'Infinity' and 'Perfect' as singles. The fifth studio album reached Number 1 on the UK album charts.
Following its release, Harry and his bandmates announced they were going on an extended hiatus in 2016, focusing on their solo careers and individual opportunities.
2017: Harry’s first solo album & Dunkirk
Harry released his first solo single 'Sign of the Times', which went straight to Number 1 in the UK, proving a success as the power ballad won a BRIT Award for British Video of the Year. Harry's self-titled debut album immediately went to Number 1 on its release in several countries, including the UK. This album showed a new side of the star that fans had not seen during his One Direction days as the record was made up of soft rock tracks. Harry then released two more singles, 'Two Ghosts' and 'Kiwi' from the album.
Harry also released a documentary about the making of his album in 2017. Entitled Harry Styles: Behind the Album, the 50-minute film showed a behind-the-scenes look at Harry's recording process. The success continued for Harry as he made his feature film acting debut in Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk, where he played a British soldier named Alex.
2018: (tour)
Harry performed on his first solo tour, Harry Styles: Live On Tour, throughout the first half of 2018. Beginning in late 2017 at smaller, more intimate venues, he then visited arenas throughout 2018, performing almost 90 dates all over the world. Harry also performed with legendary band Fleetwood Mac in early 2018, and has since built up a close friendship with front woman Stevie Nicks.
2019: Harry’s second solo album ‘Fine Line’
'Lights Up' was the first single to be released from Harry's second album 'Fine Line' and debuted at Number 3 in the UK, followed by 'Adore You' with an extended video showing his creative and quirky side. 'Fine Line' debuted at Number 1 in the UK and Rolling Stone ranked it at Number 491 in their 2020 list of the '500 Greatest Albums of All Time' - quite a feat.
2020: ‘Falling’, ‘Watermelon Sugar’, ‘Golden’ and Vogue
In February 2020, Harry released the video for emotional ballad 'Falling' which he then performed at the 2020 BRIT Awards ceremony. In May 2020, the star released the video fans had been waiting for, 'Watermelon Sugar', which is a super sexy video showing the star and some beautiful women on a beach eating A LOT of watermelons. In October 2020, Harry released the video for the fifth single from his second album, 'Golden', which shows the star running around the Amalfi Coast in Italy wearing some of the quirky outfits the star is known for. Fans went crazy for the video as it ranked up 7 million views in just one day.
March 2021: Grammy Awards, ‘Treat People with Kindness’ and Don’t Worry Darling
Harry kicked off 2021 in style by releasing the video to up-beat toe-tapper 'Treat People with Kindness' which shows himself and Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge dancing in a very stylish old-school video. The popularity of the video launched the track back into the top half of the charts at Number 2, 56 weeks after its initial release!
Spring 2021: My Policeman and Don't Worry Darling
Following his role in Dunkirk in 2017, Harry secured a starring role in new psychological horror film Don't Worry Darling alongside Florence Pugh. Olivia Wilde directed and starred in the movie, and since working together on set, she and Harry grew close and went on to have a relationship. The film was released in September 2022!
Harry was also filming LGBTQ+ film My Policeman, which was released in cinemas in October 2022 and on Prime Video in November 2022.
March 2021: Grammy Award winner
At the 63rd annual Grammy Awards, Harry kicked off the ceremony by performing his 2020 hit 'Watermelon Sugar' and later in the ceremony received his first Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance for 'Watermelon Sugar'.
May 2021: BRIT Award win for British Single
Harry took home his second BRIT Award at the 2021 ceremony, winning British Single for 'Watermelon Sugar'. Looking emotional as he took to the stage, Harry humbly told the crowd that he was "continually baffled" by "moments like this", making him more "grateful to get to do this job". He also paid tribute to the key workers in the audience for their perseverance during the pandemic.
January 2022: Announces 'Love On Tour' is coming to the UK
On 19th January 2022, Harry announced the exciting news that in June he would be bringing his 'Love On Tour' to the UK!
The 'Adore You' singer played shows in Glasgow, Manchester and London in June 2022.
April 2022: Harry Styles headlines Coachella
Harry Styles headlined the Friday night of the Coachella festival in April 2022. He performed some of his biggest hits such as 'Adore You' and 'Watermelon Sugar', along with his new single 'As It Was'.
For the second week of the festival, Harry delighted the crowd as he welcomed Lizzo onto the stage, with the pair giving us all a surprise performance of Gloria Gaynor's legendary 1978 hit 'I Will Survive'.
April 2022: Harry debuts two new songs at Coachella
As well as performing his hit track 'As It Was', which he released just weeks earlier, Harry delighted fans when he also sang two brand new songs, titled 'Boyfriends' and 'Late Night Talking'.
May 2022: Harry Styles released 'Harry's House'
On 20th May Harry Styles released 'Harry House', the third solo album from him, after One Direction started their hiatus. 'Harry's House' features the huge hit single 'As It Was'.
June 2022: My Policeman trailer released
Harry Styles stars in drama My Policeman as Tom Burgess who is caught in a love triangle with Marion played by Emma Corrin and Patrick Hazelwood, played by David Davidson.
In June, Prime Video shared first-look photos of the main characters, the official poster and a teaser trailer, giving us our first chance to see Harry in his 1950s get-up. The film has now been released.
October 2022: 'Music For A Sushi Restaurant' music video comes out
Harry shocked fans with a VERY different look in the music video for his track 'Music For A Sushi Restaurant' which sees him as a bearded half-man half-squid creature.
After the song was released as part of 'Harry's House' in May, the video came out on 27th October. By August 2023, the song was certified Platinum by the BPI.
January 2023: Harry was nominated for four BRIT Awards
Harry Styles was nominated for a massive four BRIT Awards in the categories: Mastercard Album of The Year, Artist of The Year, Song of The Year ('As It Was'), and Pop and R&B Act.
January 2023: Announced as a BRITs performer
As well as his nominations, Harry was announced to perform at the ceremony too in a line-up also consisting of Wet Leg and Sam Smith & Kim Petras!
February 2023: Harry Styles won two Grammys
Harry Styles picked up two Grammy Award on 5th February 2023. He won Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album, both for 'Harry's House'.
February 2023: Harry wins four BRIT Awards
At The BRIT Awards 2023 with Mastercard, Harry won all four awards he was nominated for, taking home the awards for Pop/R&B Act, Artist of the Year, Song of The Year ('As It Was'), and Album of the Year (Harry's House).
He said in one of his acceptance speeches: "Thank you again, I'm going to start by thanking my family for being the most supportive, understanding, patient, loving family I could have ever asked for. I want to thank my mum for signing me up for X Factor without telling me, so I literally wouldn't be here without you.
I want to thank Niall, Louis, Liam and Zayn, thank you so much. I'm really really grateful and I'm very aware of my privilege up here tonight, so this award is for Rina, Charlie, Florence, Mabel and Becky. Thank you so much."
February 2023: Harry's BRITs performance
As promised, Harry took to the stage at the BRIT Awards 2023, and it's safe to say that he did not disappoint! Performing his track 'As It Was', which picked up the gong for Song of The Year on the night, Harry delighted the crowd as he sported a red sequin jacket.
May and June 2023: 'Love On Tour 2023'
After bringing his incredible 'Love On Tour' show to the UK in 2022, Harry returned for another UK leg in 2023 - taking to the stage in Coventry, Edinburgh, London and Cardiff throughout May and June.
July 2023: New waxworks unveiled
Madame Tussauds unveiled seven new waxworks of Harry in July 2023. The waxworks feature some of his most iconic outfits and will be available to view in Madame Tussauds attractions around the world.
July 2023: 'Love On Tour' finished
Harry finished up his 'Love On Tour' with an incredible performance at the RCF Arena in Reggio Emilia, Italy on 22nd July 2023. To commemorate the ending of the mammoth tour, Harry posted a beautiful video to his Instagram page as a tribute to his fans who'd come to see him perform, writing: 'To the most inspiring people I know. Goodbye for now. Love On Tour forever.'
This sparked many fans to believe that the 3-minute clip could be a trailer for a documentary on the tour, with many taking to the comments section to share their theories.
July 2023: Image of David Hockney portrait is revealed
In July 2023, pictures were released of when Harry was been painted by renowned artist David Hockney. The portrait is one of more than 30 new portraits that will be displayed when the David Hockney: Drawing from Life exhibition opens at the National Portrait Gallery in London on 2nd November.
March 2024: 'Sign of the Times' certified 3x Platinum
Harry's debut single 'Sign of the Times' was certified 3x Platinum in March 2024 by the BPI, meaning that since its release, the song has seen over 1.8 MILLION sales. That's pretty good going!
July 2024: Harry joins Stevie Nicks on stage at Hyde Park
On 12th July 2024, Stevie Nicks headlined at the famous BST Hyde Park, igniting the crowd with her iconic, mesmerising vocals. After performing a set that not only celebrated the legendary Fleetwood Mac, but also showed off her incredible solo magnetism, Stevie delighted the crowd as she brought Harry out for a cameo - with the pair performing a stunning duet of 'Landslide', in honour of Christine McVie's birthday. Check out the performance here.
You can hear Harry Styles' songs on Northsound 1.
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