Exclusive: Four-time Grammy-winning recording artist Gary Clark Jr. is set to play American blues singer-songwriter Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup and four-time Grammy nominee Yola will play musical icon, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, in the Baz Luhrmann-directed Warner Bros Elvis biopic, which is currently shooting in Australia.
Sources tell Deadline that Luhrman was adamant about mixing big music stars and up-and-coming talent to create authenticity and sincere cultural engagement. In addition to Clark Jr., and Yola, he’s added emerging artist Shonka Dukureh in the role of Big Mama Thornton, as well Shannon Sanders and his Gospel team of Lenesha Randolph and Jordan Holland. Yola, Sanders, Randolph and Holland have been involved in the project since 2019, working with Baz from Nashville to Australia.
The new additions are joining Austin Butler as Elvis Presley, Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker, and Olivia DeJonge as Priscilla Presley. Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Alton Mason...
Sources tell Deadline that Luhrman was adamant about mixing big music stars and up-and-coming talent to create authenticity and sincere cultural engagement. In addition to Clark Jr., and Yola, he’s added emerging artist Shonka Dukureh in the role of Big Mama Thornton, as well Shannon Sanders and his Gospel team of Lenesha Randolph and Jordan Holland. Yola, Sanders, Randolph and Holland have been involved in the project since 2019, working with Baz from Nashville to Australia.
The new additions are joining Austin Butler as Elvis Presley, Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker, and Olivia DeJonge as Priscilla Presley. Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Alton Mason...
- 1/27/2021
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
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