Actor-singer Harry Styles started his journey toward stardom with the British televised singing competition The X Factor, where he was grouped with four other members and rose to become one of the most celebrated singers. His interest in music reportedly grew after he got a karaoke machine from his grandfather, and the first recording he made on it was Elvis Presley’s The Girl of My Best Friend.
Who knew that over a decade later, he would be one of the contenders to portray the rock icon in his biographical drama? The director of the 2022 Oscar-nominated movie, which featured Austin Butler as the King of Rock and Roll, shared during an interview that Styles was a serious contender to lead the film.
Harry Styles Was Desperate to Star in Elvis (2022)
Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 movie follows the life of the American rock and roll star Elvis Presley. The movie featured Austin Butler in the title role alongside an ensemble cast and won several accolades along with eight Academy Award nominations, including for Best Actor and Best Picture.
Austin Butler in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis
However, before Butler landed his first Oscar-nominated role in the 2022 movie, Harry Styles was desperate to portray the iconic singer in his biopic. During his appearance on the podcast Fitzy and Wippa with Kate Ritchie, Baz Luhrmann shared that he would love to work with the Dunkirk actor as he is a really talented actor. He further stated,
“Harry and I came to a place, genuinely I mean, he was just desperate to put the suit on and explore. He’s such a great spirit and I have nothing but great things to say about Harry Styles.”
Pop star Harry Styles
However, when it came to taking the lead role, he was hesitant to cast Styles as the King of Rock and Roll, as the former One Direction singer is already an established star, and he believed that the audience might struggle to see past the British pop star. “The real issue with Harry is, he’s Harry Styles. He’s already an icon,” he said, explaining the reason he did not cast Styles in the 2022 movie.
Harry Styles on Losing the Role of Elvis Presley
Although he lost the role of the King of Rock and Roll in the 2022 movie, he was reportedly looking forward to Austin Butler’s performance in the biographical drama. Talking about the movie with The Face, he said, “Everyone involved in it was amazing. So I think it’s going to be great.”
Harry Styles posing for The Face
Styles, who made his feature film debut with Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk, also talked about losing the part to Butler. He shared that growing up Presley was his icon. “There was something almost sacred about him, almost like I didn’t want to touch him,” he said. However, once he got embroiled in his story he was not disappointed.
Although he was upset to lose the role to The Bikeriders star, he said, “I feel like if I’m not the right person for the thing, then it’s best for both of us that I don’t do it, you know?” Styles also starred in the leading roles in Don’t Worry Darling and My Policeman in 2022.
