Elvis Presley movie: Did King and manager Tom Parker get on? Widow speaks on HUGE role

Elvis Presley remains one of the most legendary singers in the world decades after his passing, and is still named the King of Rock ’n’ Roll to this day.

A film adaptation based on the star’s life has been a long time coming, partly because the singer has such an unusual look – an appearance almost impossibly hard to replicate by today’s actors.

After months of decision making it was finally announced Austin Butler beat out the rest of the competition in Miles Teller and Ansel Elgort and had been chosen to play the superstar.

And this was shortly followed by the news Toy Story, Big and You’ve Got Mail actor Hanks, who most recently starred in A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood, would be taking on the role of Presley’s manager Colonel Tom Parker.

But what was their real relationship like? Were the pair friends or did things ever turn frosty?

Judging by the simple fact the production chose Hollywood nice guy Hanks for the part, it would suggest the former, but Parker’s widow Loanne was later quizzed on the news.

Her response definitely seemed to suggest there was real friendship between the pair, but also referred to heroes and villains in the story.

READ MORE: Elvis Presley relationships: The women with King of Rock and Roll

“If Tom Hanks takes on a role, he makes it a good fit,” Loanne said.

“He will be a good fit for Colonel, I have trust in his abilities.”

“Every story has a hero and a villain,” the manager’s widow went on. “And the past stories that made Elvis a hero…

“That leaves only the Colonel to be a villain, and both of them were heroes in their own right.”

The interviewee then showed her concern over the possibility for her late husband to be portrayed differently, but reiterated her belief in Hanks’ acting prowess.

“I would like to see that clarified, and I have great faith in Tom’s ability and integrity,” she said.

“I just pray he wouldn’t do anything less than the truth.”

The new film is set to be a major contender in next year’s releases, particularly given its game changing director Baz Luhrmann, who is known for his stylised movies Romeo and Juliet and Moulin Rouge.

In one interview he shared: “My mama never let me out of her sight. I couldn’t go down to the creek with the other kids,” sharing their closeness.

But as Presley’s fame continued to rise, his mother was allegedly struggling to cope with the effects on her own life, and reportedly turned to alcohol.

The Presley matriarch later suffered with liver problems, before she died August 14, 1958, only two days after the singer was brought home from the military on emergency leave to see her.

source: express.co.uk