Elvis Presley movie: THIS is the actor who’ll play the King of Rock’n’Roll in biopic

Director Baz Luhrmann has confirmed that Austin Butler is the actor who’ll be stepping up to the plate to play the iconic musician.

In a statement, the film-maker said he “knew unequivocally” after an “extensive” casting process that the rising star is the man for the job.

He’ll now play opposite Tom Hanks – who’ll portray Col. Tom Parker – when the cameras finally start rolling.

Luhrmann said, according to Variety: “I knew I couldn’t make this film if the casting wasn’t absolutely right, and we searched thoroughly for an actor with the ability to evoke the singular natural movement and vocal qualities of this peerless star, but also the inner vulnerability of the artist.

“Throughout the casting process, it was an honour for me to encounter such a vast array of talent.

“I had heard about Austin Butler from his stand-out role opposite Denzel Washington in The Iceman Cometh on Broadway, and through a journey of extensive screen testing and music and performance workshops, I knew unequivocally that I had found someone who could embody the spirit of one of the world’s most iconic musical figures.”

There will plenty of opportunities to see Butler – who has been dating Vanessa Hudgens since 2011 – on screen before production starts in 2020.

For a start, he’s in the new zombie comedy The Dead Don’t Die alongside the likes of Adam Driver.

He’ll also appear in Quentin Tarantino’s much-hyped Once Upon A Time In Hollywood; also due out this summer.

Fans may also recognise him from small-screen roles in shows such as The Carrie Diaries, Zoey 101 and Switched At Birth.

Butler was one of the five stars named in a report earlier this month, which seemed to reveal the final contenders Luhrmann was considering.

If all five were accurate, it means there will have been disappointing news for Harry Styles, Miles Teller, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ansel Elgort; all also believed to have been in the frame.

The Elvis film will mark the latest in a long line of movies taking a look back at the icons of music.

Bohemian Rhapsody won four Oscars earlier this year; including one for its leading man Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury.

Elton John movie Rocketman followed earlier this year; with an acclaimed Taron Egerton in the main role.

This new film does not currently have a release date.