Sofia Coppola’s recent biopic, Priscilla, based on Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoir Elvis and Me, has stirred up controversy, notably due to late Lisa Marie Presley’s critique of the script. In a series of emails obtained by Variety, Lisa, daughter of Elvis Presley, who passed away in January, believed that the script painted Elvis as a “predator” and described it as “shockingly vengeful and contemptuous.” Lisa’s critique went beyond artistic differences; it stemmed from her concerns about how the film might impact her mother’s relationship with Elvis’s legacy, as Priscilla Presley is an executive producer on the project.
Lisa also drew a sharp contrast between Priscilla and Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 biopic Elvis. She regarded the latter as a more positive portrayal of her father, referring to it as “a break from suffering and a ray of light.” This comparison highlighted her perplexity regarding the negative depiction of Elvis in Priscilla.
Lisa expressed concern for her family’s well-being, particularly her two daughters. She revealed that she had to explain to one of her children that they would have to endure another challenge, with a movie attempting to tarnish their grandfather’s reputation. She emphasised her worries about the emotional toll this situation might have on her family, given the adversities they had already faced.
Priscilla Presley, the biopic’s subject, took a different stance, praising Sofia Coppola’s work and research while acknowledging the challenges of watching a film about her life and love. She expressed her love for the film and appreciated the effort invested by the director.
