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'Too iconic': Baz Luhrmann reveals why Harry Styles lost Elvis role to Austin Butler

Harry Styles auditioned for the part and even the ‘Whiplash’ star Miles Teller was also considered for the role of a lifetime

Baz Luhrmann is all set to bring the rock and roll drama to the big screen with his new flick ‘Elvis’. The film stars the suave Austin Butler in the lead role but was he the very first choice of the filmmaker? According to reports, R&B icon Harry Styles auditioned for the part and even the ‘Whiplash’ star Miles Teller was also considered for the role of a lifetime.
 
In an interview with Fitzy & Wippa, Baz Luhrmann spilled the beans on why he did not cast Harry for the lead role. He felt that Harry was an icon himself and that was the real issue. Social media users were quick to react to Luhrmann’s comments claiming that what the director really meant was Harry  did not have the acting chops. A few others said what the filmmaker really meant was that Austin Butler was not an icon. For the unversed, ‘Elvis’ hits the theatres on June 24.
 
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‘The real issue with Harry is, he’s Harry Styles’

In his interview, Luhrmann cleared the air as to why Harry did not land the iconic role. “I don’t audition. I do these really rich workshops. I’ll talk about Harry only because Harry said it himself just recently”, said Luhrmann as reported by Just Jared. He continued, “Harry is really talented actor. I would work on something with him. The real issue with Harry is, he’s Harry Styles. He’s already an icon.”  He further shared, “I think Harry and I came to a place, genuinely I mean, he was just desperate to put the suit on and explore” concluding, “He’s such a great spirit and I have nothing but great things to say about Harry Styles.”
 
Harry on Howard Stern’s SiriusXM show on May 18 shed light on his audition for ‘Elvis’. The ‘Golden’ hitmaker stated, “Elvis was probably the first person I knew besides my family when I was a kid” adding, “For that reason, there was something incredibly sacred surrounding him, so I thought I should try to get the part.” He continued, “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.”  Harry concluded, “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”, as reported by NME.

 ‘Basically said he don't have the acting chops’

Reacting to Luhrmann’s comments, one user said, “So he’s saying Austin isn’t an icon, got it.” Another chimed in, “Good thing they didn’t cast him, else we’d have ppl romanticizing elvis even more when he deserves none in the first place.” One user stated, “Good! Let newer actor have their time to shine. Enough giving big celebrities roles.” And, one individual asserted, “Basically said he don't have the acting chops.”
 
The next one tweeted, “See, i get what he’s saying. Casting someone with as big of a name and career as Harry it would’ve became more about Harry Styles instead of it being about Elvis and his life. So as much as i love Harry and love seeing him in movies i understand why they didn’t cast him.”  And, one concluded, “Harry Styles is like a modern day elvis but like wayyyyyyyyy better and sexier.”