Elvis biopic shuts down, Tom Hanks to return to US

After attempting to forge on amid the coronavirus outbreak, Baz Luhrmann has decided to pull the pin on his Elvis Presley biopic on the Gold Coast, with star Tom Hanks set to return to the US.

DIRECTOR Baz Luhrmann has shut down production on his Elvis Presley biopic on the Gold Coast.

The Courier-Mail can confirm star Tom Hanks — in isolation after contracting coronavirus — will return to the US next week after the Warner Bros production at Village Roadshow Studios was today closed down.

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“Despite valiant efforts, due to current world events, production on the Elvis film cannot proceed at this time. We will commence principal photography once circumstances permit,” a Warner Bros. spokesperson said.

Tom Hanks shared an image of him and wife Rita Wilson in quarantine on the Gold Coast after testing positive for coronavirus. Picture: Instagram

Luhrmann wrote in a statement on Twitter that he had made the decision in consultation with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, and reiterated his commitment to filming in the state.

“Please know this is in no way a reflection on our commitment to make this movie here in Queensland. In fact, we are not even taking our sets down, simply locking up the creative space over the next few days,” Luhrmann said.

“I have spoken to the Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, and we all agree that right now, his is the right time for people all over the world, from all walks of life, to be at home, indoors, with their loved ones (washing our hands five times a day).”

“All going well, we have a passionate conviction to be back here on the Gold Coast, picking up where we left off as soon as the time is right.”

Hanks confirmed last Thursday that he and wife Rita Wilson had contracted coronavirus and were to be quarantined on the Gold Coast for two weeks.

The production was halted for five days before the rest of the cast and crew returned to work on Monday, with the start of filming pushed back two weeks to accommodate Hanks’ recovery.

The Courier-Mail understands crew members were told today that the production had been pushed back to August.

The Baz Lurhmann biopic on Elvis Presley, to be filmed at Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast, has since been shut down. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Cast and crew, including star Tom Hanks, will leave Australia for their respective homes in a week’s time, once his mandatory isolation period is finished.

The film was expected to create 900 jobs and pump $105 million into the Queensland economy.

Filming was first delayed by nearly two weeks after unprecedented rain in February flooded parts of the Village Roadshow studios set.

The Elvis biopic, which also stars Austin Butler, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Olivia DeJonge, was Luhrmann’s first film since The Great Gatsby (2013).