Baz Luhrmann to film Elvis movie on the Gold Coast

Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann will make a major movie on the Gold Coast, with Hollywood heavyweight Tom Hanks set to star in the film about the life of Elvis Presley.

Australia’s director Baz Luhrmann at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles. Picture: Jason Merritt/Getty

ACADEMY Award winner Tom Hanks will make the Gold Coast his home when he stars in a major biopic about one of Hollywood’s biggest names.

Legendary Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann will produce and direct a film about the life and music of Elvis Presley at the Village Roadshow Studies.

Hanks, who’s famous for his roles in Forrest Gump, Sully and Cast Away, has been cast as Presley’s manager Colonel Tom Parker.

While a date hasn’t been set, the Warner Bros Pictures production is expected to inject $105 million into the Queensland economy and create 900 jobs.

Luhrmann said Australia continued to be one of the great filmmaking locations in the world.

“Since shooting significant portions of the film Australia in Queensland, I’ve been excited to get back to such a conducive creative environment to realise this film,” he said.

The Presley biopic hasn’t been named yet but will explore the late heart throb’s rise to fame while looking at his complicated relationship with his manager - to be played by Hanks.

Tom Hanks will play Colonel Tom Parker. Picture: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty

Elvis Presley

Luhrmann, who’s renowned for films Australia, which featured Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, and The Great Gatsby with Leonardo DiCaprio, is casting far and wide for an actor to play Presley.

The major coup for Queensland joins a raft of other blockbusters produced locally including Aquaman and Thor: Ragnarök.

Premier and Trade Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk secured the project during a recent meeting with Luhrmann in London.

The Premier said the State Government’s strategy to attract major feature productions continued to deliver for Queensland’s screen industry.

“The continuous pipeline of major productions means the talented people working in Queensland’s screen industry have an opportunity to work with a legend like Baz Luhrmann,” she said.

“The succession of Queensland-made films continues to showcase our unmatched and pristine tourism destinations to the world, bringing thousands of visitors to our shores.”

Elvis impersonator Dean Vegas, who lives on the Gold Coast, said he couldn’t believe it was happening.

“It’s beyond words especially coming down to the Gold Coast,” he said.

“You never know your luck in the big city. As soon as I can find out where I can try out I’ll be there.”