Baz Luhrmann Reveals Elvis Film Duration Actually Reaches 4 Hours!

JAKARTA - Director Baz Luhrmann revealed facts about his latest film, Elvis. He said the film was actually four hours long but there were some scenes that had to be cut in order to be shown in theaters.

“Actually I have a four-hour film version. But I had to cut it to 2.5 hours,” Baz Luhrmann told the Radio Times today, Monday, June 20.

Furthermore, he explained that there were many scenes that could tell the story of Elvis Presley, from Elvis' relationship with the band to how Colonel tried to get rid of them.

“I have a lot to present. There were a lot of scenes that I shot like the relationship with the band but I had to cut back. Relationship with his first girlfriend, Dixie," said Luhrmann.

Iconic scenes such as the meeting with President Richard Nixon also don't make it to the end of the film. Of course this is a difficult decision for Luhrmann.

"I put it there for a while but it got to a point where I couldn't have it all so I just tried to bring out the spirit of the character," explained the 59-year-old director.

According to him, the Elvis film is not a biopic the same as other musician biopics. This film also tells how a white child grows up in a black community.

Elvis starring Austin Butler tells the story of pop icon Elvis Presley's struggle from a carnival stage to a Las Vegas performer. This film presents the point of view of its manager, Colonel Tom Parker, played by Tom Hanks.

The Elvis film will be shown in Indonesian cinemas starting June 24.