Sofia Coppola says she didn’t want to "vilify" Elvis Presley in her new movie Priscilla

Nov. 4, 2023

Exclusive: Sofia Coppola opens up about her new movie Priscilla in the new issue of Total Film magazine

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WhileElviswas all about the King of Rock and Roll, Sofia Coppola’s latest shifts its focus to Priscilla Presley, a schoolgirl who gets wrapped up in Elvis Presley’s orbit at the age of just 14.

In thenew issue of Total Filmmagazine, whichfeatures The Bikeriders on the cover, Coppola opens up about crafting this new story, and why it was so important not to vilify Elvis. The key to this, theLost in Translationdirector tells us, was working closely with the real Priscilla, now 78, to tell her story.

“I spoke to her a lot as I was preparing it,” she explains in the new issue, which hits newsstands on November 9. “She made herself available. It was important for me that she felt good about it, and that it represented what she was trying to express. So that was a challenge: how do I make what I want to make, but also make sure that it respects her, and is telling her story?”

Coppola adds that this also meant including the drugs, cheating, and violence that Presley’s widow writes about in her 1985 memoir ‘Elvis and Me’. “I never wanted to vilify [Elvis],” the writer-director continues. “There were fun moments, and they loved each other, and then there’s dark moments, and how to balance that, so that it wasn’t too much one way. I tried not to think about all the other opinions. I really just focused on her story.”

Starring Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla and Jacob Elordi as Elvis, the film charts the length of their marriage. Focusing primarily on Priscilla’s perspective, viewers watch as a teenage infatuation blossoms into an all-consuming relationship plagued by loneliness, passion, and ultimately heartbreak.

For much more on Priscilla, as well as stories onThe Bikeriders,Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, Rebel Moon, and much more, pick up a copy of the new issue of Total Film when it hits shelves on November 9. Check out the covers below:

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Jane Crowther is a contributing editor to Total Film magazine, having formerly been the longtime Editor, as well as serving as the Editor-in-Chief of the Film Group here at Future Plc, which covers Total Film, SFX, and numerous TV and women’s interest brands. Jane is also the vice-chair of The Critics' Circle and a BAFTA member. You’ll find Jane on GamesRadar+ exploring the biggest movies in the world and living up to her reputation as one of the most authoritative voices on film in the industry.

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