Coppola vs. Presley: Clash of Visions in Making the 'Priscilla' Biopic

By Srikanto Mandal 3 November, 2023

[{"selector":"#anim-96f25bf0-1194-4ddf-b28f-369b33518166","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a8713d30-ee47-4567-b333-b19206b176e1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 137.35829%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5a3f2d95-0864-42cf-a50a-942b3961fbe9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.998046650473583%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Sofia Coppola, a renowned director, created a script for a biopic titled "Priscilla" based on Priscilla Presley's 1985 memoir, "Elvis and Me," which details her relationship with Elvis Presley. Photo: Instagram

[{"selector":"#anim-96940cd3-43ce-4e92-9282-0ce867b3cdc7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-21.874999829338588%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-868561b2-ecd7-4aba-abe6-302b7d642b8e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-39dfbf94-7b5e-48b5-8fc4-de605a7a1a0d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 167.30162%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley, opposed Coppola's script before her unfortunate death. Photo: Instagram

[{"selector":"#anim-8fa055da-1ad7-4e8b-bdfd-f673b2c95b4c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-21.992187330049678%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-530500c3-e1d2-4648-be9a-64fa85bbc4c9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d411f63e-b444-4d94-a5de-c357a1a2fa0b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 147.15608%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Lisa Marie expressed her strong disapproval of the script, describing it as vengeful and contemptuous, especially in its portrayal of her father, Elvis. Photo: Instagram

[{"selector":"#anim-5f5d7f10-18db-44c4-87a1-bc8bc15e68e0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-14.843749786673241%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e7d725a7-a5db-45f0-bd87-23bdb9004113","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6f0fa2a8-d467-4164-8886-cc2c8f5c1557","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 180.73543%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] She was concerned about the potential impact on her family's legacy and the public perception of Elvis as a result of the script. Photo: Instagram

[{"selector":"#anim-13e88a8b-4047-4811-b723-c66ebbd58d62 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-29.635236354197463%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-082dfae9-93e7-4b07-8a4c-3dd86069cf97","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0b0154cf-1271-4e50-bbd0-e4a791f28582","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 201.10104%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Lisa Marie worried that her mother, Priscilla Presley, might not fully understand the nuances of the film. Photo: Instagram

[{"selector":"#anim-ec19d241-fb07-4788-932a-33eb490db84d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-14.872448766439222%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3b948907-09e0-4579-8fe0-bff08ef7eb04","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-25fef54a-d689-4fa2-bd41-b9159c4dad3f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 133.27665%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] She threatened to publicly express her disapproval of the project, even though Priscilla Presley was credited as an executive producer and involved in promoting the film. Photo: Instagram

[{"selector":"#anim-59279845-881c-49d9-9ab7-85a665e733be [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-20.96058160957243%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f0be3145-8933-4d54-97b6-82c06b064a95","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6d76d599-bd7f-46d4-a17a-a1d0ef94308f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 147.56235%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Sofia Coppola responded by hoping that the final film would be viewed differently and assured that she aimed to honor Priscilla Presley while presenting Elvis with sensitivity and complexity. Photo: Instagram

[{"selector":"#anim-55bfd594-6cf0-4f2c-a377-068ff5b2802b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-15.156249788569479%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8133f653-9826-4607-b796-e97ea38fd647","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eebd5a85-167e-4228-bd8f-46ff2c402fc3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 150.72749%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The emails revealed the challenges of balancing artistic representation with the protection of the legacies of iconic figures like Elvis Presley.

[{"selector":"#anim-7fd61070-e863-4ea8-8a39-72e9114d7901 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-7.63449341381382%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dd61721c-bcc4-4e58-b509-01e01268a9d2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-75931e3d-3a3b-4cf9-a79e-092d5ac35a6b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 162.63227%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Lisa Marie's personal struggles, including the loss of her son, Benjamin Keough, and concerns for her grandchildren, added complexity to the situation. Photo: The Sun