Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis has entered the Cannes Film Festival

It was the glitziest affair of the Cannes Film Festival – the world premiere of Baz Lurhmann’s Elvis movie. And the stars dressed to impress.

It was the glitziest and most glamorous affair of the Cannes Film Festival – the world premiere of Baz Lurhann’s new movie, Elvis.

And the stars – including Austn Butler who plays Elvis Presley and Australian actor Olivia DeJonge, who portrays Priscilla Presley – were dressed to impress.

Australian director Luhrmann, a long-time darling of Cannes, posed on the red steps of the Grand Théâtre Lumière, along the Côte d’Azur, for the glittering world premiere.

Luhrmann was joined by Butler, DeJonge and Tom Hanks (who plays Elvis’s manager Colonel Tom Parker), as well as Priscilla, who posed with the actress who plays her.

Amid a sea of black suits and bow ties, Luhrmann’s sartorial tribute to The King stood out – he sported a sparkly belt buckle with “Elvis” written on it in red.

Luhrmann received a 12-minute standing ovation from the crowd, said to be the longest of this year’s festival.

Baz Luhrmann and Austin Butler at the world premiere of Elvis at the 75th Cannes Film Festival. Picture: Getty Images

Tom Hanks, who plays Elvis’ manager Colonel Tom Parker, and Austin Butler. Picture: AFP

Rave reviews! The cast of Elvis with Baz Luhrmann, second from right. Picture: Getty Images

Olivia DeJonge in mint ruffles and Bulgari jewels. Picture: Getty Images

Olivia DeJonge and Priscilla Presley. Picture: AFP

DeJonge, 24, wore a mint Gucci ruffled gown, teamed with Bulgari accessories (DeJonge was named an official friend of the maison) – among them, a yellow diamond Bulgari ring.
The Elvis premiere attracted a star-studded audience. At its Cannes screening were supermodel Kaia Gerber – who is dating Butler – and Australian singer, Kylie Minogue, wearing Cannes-appropriate high-fashion silhouettes.

Minogue, who recently relocated to Melbourne, wore a sheer black Versace corset gown.

She teamed the outfit with Bulgari accessories, including its “Spring in Eden” emerald necklace which features nearly 76cts of diamonds.

Gerber wore an ankle-skimming red halter dress, teamed with strappy black Celine heels, in an outfit that many likened to the minimalist yet glam style her mother, Cindy Crawford, made famous in the 90s.

Kylie Minogue in Versace. Picture: Getty Images

The Australian star wore Bulgari jewels. Picture: AFP

On the red carpet at Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France. Picture: Getty Images

Supermodel Kaia Gerber is dating Elvis star Austin Butler. Picture: Getty Images

She’s red-y! Kaia channelled her mother, Cindy Crawford, at the Elvis premiere. Picture: Getty Images

Victoria’s Secret model Adriana Lima. Picture: Getty Images

Australian model Shanina Shaik, who is expecting her first child. Picture: Getty Images

CRITICS AT CANNES

In terms of reviews, Elvis – which was shot in Australia – was well received after its debut at Cannes. Luhrmann has become a favourite at the film festival, having impressed critics with his debut, Strictly Ballroom, in 1992, and opening the festival twice, with Moulin Rouge! and Gatsby.

Variety said, “Luhrmann has made a woefully imperfect but at times arresting drama that builds to something moving and true”.

“As a tribute from one champion of outrageous showmanship to another, it dazzles,” wrote The Hollywood Reporter in its review.

Deadline stated: “Butler thrillingly succeeds, especially in the film’s first half, with an authentic rhythm that makes us wonder what greater heights Elvis could have climbed had he not succumbed to the dark side of his own fame”.

Baz Luhrmann and Austin Butler have been praised for Elvis. Picture: Getty Images

Luhrmann’s Elvis has also received praise from The King’s family – Presley died in 1977 at the age of 42 after a descent into drug addiction.

Elvis’ granddaughter Riley Keough described Lurhamnn’s film as “a very intense experience”.

Keough, an actor and director, watched it with her mother, Lisa Marie Presley, and grandmother, Priscilla.

“There’s a lot of family trauma and generational trauma that started around there. It was a very intense experience,” Keough said at Cannes, where she premiered her directorial debut, War Pony.

It came as Butler revealed that he had become so immersed in the role of Elvis that he “lost touch” with who he was in real life.

“You can lose touch with who you actually are, and I definitely had that when I finished Elvis – not knowing who I was,” Butler told GQ.

A week after shooting wrapped on the Gold Coast, Butler fell ill. “I woke up at four in the morning with excruciating pain, and I was rushed to hospital,” he revealed.

“My body just started shutting down the day after I finished Elvis.”

Elvis is out in Australia on June 23.

Originally published as Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis has entered the Cannes Film Festival