Baz Luhrmann, Austin Butler and Olivia DeJonge to attend the Australian Premiere of Elvis on the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast will host a gala premiere of Elvis with filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and stars Austin Butler and Olivia DeJonge set to walk a glitzy red carpet

The Gold Coast is set to host a dazzling Australian premiere of Elvis with filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and stars Austin Butler and Olivia DeJonge to reunite on the red carpet.

After attending the film’s world premiere in Cannes in late May, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker will return to the Gold Coast – where the film was made in its entirety in 2020 and 2021 – alongside lead stars Butler and DeJonge, who play Elvis and Priscilla Presley, for the gala opening at Event Cinemas, Pacific Fair on Saturday, June 4.

They will be joined by many of the film’s 95 Australian cast members, who will then celebrate at a glamorous private after-party featuring surprise musical guests.

AUSTIN BUTLER as Elvis in Warner Bros Pictures’ drama “ELVIS,” a Warner Bros Pictures release. Photo by Hugh Stewart

Luhrmann, who also completed post-production of Elvis in the city, has continually praised the Gold Coast as a filmmaking mecca, describing it as “a new creative home”.

“There’s simply no way we could premiere this film anywhere else in Australia but the Gold Coast; or as we have come to know it, the Goldie,” Luhrmann said.

“My entire creative team, our families and I have developed a true love of and deep relationship with the emerging energy and creative spirit of The Goldie. The many artists and friends whom we have met along the way have made us think of it as a new creative home.

“I’ve been quoted saying, and will continue to say, that I would recommend to any filmmaker in the world to come to this exciting place. The Gold Coast is bursting with the energy, creativity, good food and great people essential to making a movie.”

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 28: Baz Luhrmann, Olivia DeJonge and Austin Butler arrive at the GQ Men of The Year Awards 2019 on November 28, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

It is the first gala premiere of a locally-made blockbuster since Aquaman opened on the Gold Coast in late 2018.

Elvis explores the life and music of Elvis Presley (Butler), through the prism of his complicated relationship with manager, Colonel Tom Parker, played by Tom Hanks, who attracted global spotlight when he contracted Covid in early 2020 and shut down the production for several months.

It was filmed at Village Roadshow Studios and on location on the Gold Coast with support from the Queensland Government and the Federal Government’s Producer Offset program.

Australian director Baz Luhrmann in his new studios at Miami on the Gold Coast Highway. Picture: Jerad Williams

“I met Baz Luhrmann back in 2019 during a trade mission to the UK to help secure this production for the Gold Coast, and to now see it coming to life on the big screen is just incredible,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

“By having Elvis filmed here, it has not only put the Gold Coast and Queensland in the global spotlight, but it has given 900 Queensland cast and crew jobs and provided a boost of more than $130 million into our economy. This has been critical to our economic recovery during the challenging pandemic times.”

“This is a proud moment for Queensland.”

Elvis is in cinemas from June 23.