Acclaimed director Baz Luhrmann has officially "let the cat out of the bag" regarding the future of his cinematic masterpiece, Elvis. During a guest appearance on Magic Radio’s Perfect Playlist with Dan Morrissey, the visionary filmmaker confirmed that a stage musical adaptation of his 2022 biopic is currently in the works.
When asked by Morrissey about the possibility of bringing the King of Rock 'n' Roll to the stage, Luhrmann was characteristically candid. "It’s being worked on, it’s happening yeah," he revealed. "I don’t know if I was supposed to announce it but hey, I just did."
However, while Luhrmann is happy to see the project move forward, he made it clear that he will not be the one in the director’s chair for the theatrical version. Drawing a parallel to the wildly successful Moulin Rouge! The Musical, which was directed by Alex Timbers rather than Luhrmann himself, the director explained his philosophy on revisiting past works.
"I can never go backwards," Luhrmann admitted. "I can’t be me when I was 28 doing Romeo & Juliet, but I love handing it on. I’m not precious. I’m like, 'take my baby!'"
This news comes at a peak time for Luhrmann-related stage adaptations, as his catalog continues to prove its theatrical longevity. With Moulin Rouge! still dominating the West End and Broadway, and a Great Gatsby musical recently hitting the stage, an Elvis production feels like a natural evolution for his "Red Curtain" style of storytelling.
Fans can likely expect the same maximalist energy, dazzling costumes, and genre-bending musical arrangements that defined the film, which earned Austin Butler an Oscar nomination. While no timeline or casting has been confirmed, Luhrmann’s endorsement ensures the project is moving ahead with his blessing.
