Elvis premiere: Baz Luhrmann, Tom Hanks, Austin Butler and Olivia DeJong hit red carpet on Gold Coast

Superstar director Baz Luhrmann has walked the red carpet alongside Hollywood heavyweight Tom Hanks and co-stars Austin Butler and Olivia DeJonge for the Elvis Aussie premiere.

Baz Luhrmann says the Gold Coast would be his ‘first choice’ to make another movie as he and the stars of his new Elvis biopic hit the Glitter Strip for the film’s Australian premiere.

Luhrmann joined Hollywood heavyweight Tom Hanks and co stars Austin Butler and Olivia DeJonge on the red carpet at Pacific Fair on Saturday night for the big reveal of the film which was shot on the Coast.

It was Tom Hanks who got the biggest cheer as he made his triumphant return to the Gold Coast, playfully waving with fans and speaking of his love of the city as he walked the red carpet.

Tom Hanks attends the Australian premiere of ELVIS at Event Cinemas Pacific Fair. Photo: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

In the biggest film event to hit the state since Aquaman in 2018, the Academy Award winner declined interviews and instead posed for a group photo with Luhrmann and his co-stars in front of a mob of media as thousands of fans, many of whom had lined up early in the day, watched on behind barricades.

The 20-metre red carpet led to a giant Elvis media wall which took over the entrance to Event Cinemas.

The 900 excited guests were split across five cinemas all screening the film simultaneously.

Butler made his way off the red carpet, offering hugs and selfies to excited fans, some of whom had brought images of Elvis to sign.

Austin Butler, Olivia DeJonge, Baz Luhrmann and Tom Hanks on the red carpet. Photo: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Other guests included stars of the film Helen Thomson and David Wenham, premier Annastacia Palascszuk with Dr Reza Adib, Queensland governor Dr Jeanette Young, actors Isabel Lucas and Lincoln Lewis and Lisa Curry with husband Mark Tabone, who is an Elvis impersonator.

Swimmer Cody Simpson stepped out with fellow swimmer and girlfriend Emma McKeon.

Hanks delighted the crowd inside the screening at Event Cinemas with a comedic speech alongside Baz Luhrmann.

“There is no better place in the world to make a motion picture than right here on the Gold Coast,” he said.

The Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk with Reza Adib on the red carpet at the Premier of the new Hollywood Movie Elvis. Picture: Scott Powick.

“None of them (the other places) have what the Gold Coast have, and what is that? Two words. None of those other cities have Dan Murphy. What a man.”

Hanks then put on an Australian accent as he continued: “If you don’t know where we shot our movie it’s very easy, you get in your car, head towards Brisbane and you turn left at top golf.

“We had an absolutely magnificent time with you all. There is something about the people and the place of the Gold Coast that makes everyone walk around with a confident look on their face.

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“We were a part of that. Your confidence, joy and zest for life comes through in our motion picture.

“You have a wonderful proactive golden son in Baz Luhrmann who loves Australia more than kangaroos, more than Dan Murphy.”

In a tongue-in-cheek gesture, guests were served a replica of the Rick Shore’s bug roll that sealed the deal for Luhrmann to film the movie on the Gold Coast.

Luhrmann said after production was initially shut down in early 2020 when Hanks and wife Rita Wilson contracted Covid-19, putting them both in Gold Coast University Hospital, “it was the smoothest shoot I ever had”.

“I came in under budget and on time,” he said.

Film director Baz Luhrmannin front of the giant Elvis Presley mural at Burleigh Heads. Picture: Scott Powick

“It was a very smooth actual shoot. I would shoot a movie here tomorrow, it would be my first choice in the world as a place to shoot a movie, without any kind of promotional glitz on it.

“America’s always been able to make movies set anywhere in the world. Here on the Gold Coast, you can pick any story you want. Every frame (of Elvis) was shot here.

“People said we couldn’t do Beale St because where are we going to get all the Afro Americans from? They all came from here. I mean, I built Graceland out amongst the gum trees.”

Luhrmann stopped off at Matty Te Paea’s mural on the way to the premiere. Picture: Scott Powick

Before taking to the red carpet, Luhrmann visited a homegrown homage to the movie created by local street artist Matty Te Paea.

Te Paea spent five days painting the giant mural featuring Butler as Elvis, Hanks as his manager Colonel Tom Parker and DeJonge as Priscilla Presley, on the side of the building on the Gold Coast Highway at Burleigh.

He worked for up to 15 hours a day in wind and rain, pulling an all nighter on Friday to have it finished in time for the premiere.

Luhrmann was suitably impressed, saying it symbolised the Gold Coast’s pride in its movie industry.

“This is completely spontaneous, this is completely real, I was touched by it,” he said.

“I go around the world, we’re promoting a movie I saw it (the mural) and thought it was a promotion. But this is a man who is making it out of love.”

Baz Luhrmann says he doesn’t care about the mixed reviews for the film. Picture: Scott Powick

Luhrmann also shrugged off mixed reviews for the Elvis movie, saying: “i don’t live by reviews.”

“People have a whack at me, it’s usually a bit misinformed,” he said.

“I make theatrical movies because I want people to get into the theatre. I watch streaming services on my phone as much as anyone – it’s like getting takeout.

“I make theatrical movies because people need to get out with strangers. If you laugh at something with strangers or are moved by something with strangers, you’re not lonely.

“And if there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us, it’s how utterly catastrophic feeling lonely is. Loneliness is just one of the worst human feelings, and movies – theatrical experiences – are a really good antidote for loneliness.”