Lisa Marie Presley praised the portrayal of her father, Elvis Presley, in Elvis last year, but reportedly slammed new release Priscilla as “vengeful and contemptuous.”
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Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla, which begins its wide theatrical release Friday, comes just one year after Baz Luhrmann’s vastly different portrayal of Elvis Presley in Elvis, and some members of his family have had differing responses to the two films, with Variety reporting that Lisa Marie Presley slammed Priscilla as a “vengeful and contemptuous” portrait of her father.Key Facts
Lisa Marie Presley, according to emails obtained by Variety, condemned Coppola’s portrayal of her father in Priscilla, reportedly stating her father, Elvis Presley, “only comes across as a predator and manipulative,” though Coppola defended her portrayal of Presley’s father as sensitive and complex in response.
Presley, who died in January, reportedly pleaded with Coppola in emails sent in September 2022, before the film began shooting, to reconsider her vision for Priscilla and stated she would speak out against the film upon its release.
Priscilla, however, has been supported by its real-life subject and Presley’s mother, Priscilla Presley, who reportedly served as an executive producer on the film (which is based on her memoir, Elvis and Me) and worked closely with both Coppola and star Cailee Spaeny to assist with her portrayal.
Lisa Marie Presley had previously praised Elvis and supported the film at the 80th Golden Globe Awards, stating director Baz Luhrmann treated her father with “pure love, care, and respect,” and praising star Austin Butler’s performance as a portrayal of her father “FINALLY done accurately and respectfully.
