Sofia Coppola’s 2023 biopic Priscilla wasn’t afraid to explore the more somber facets of Priscilla Presley’s courtship and marriage with rock ’n’ roll icon Elvis Presley. And for the most part, the real Priscilla adored the modern screen interpretation—except for one crucial detail.
Presley, 79, recently offered her honest thoughts about the movie during a panel at MegaCon Orlando. Based on her 1985 memoir, Elvis and Me, the biographical drama starred Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi as the famous music couple. Spaeny won Best Actress at the 2023 Venice International Film Festival and earned a Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal.
Priscilla followed the Oscar-nominated 2022 biopic Elvis starring Austin Butler, which largely detailed the “Hound Dog” crooner’s music career and partnership with manager Colonel Tom Parker. However, Coppola’s choice to focus on the Presleys’ personal life led to some divisive opinions, even from Priscilla herself.
Watch Priscilla and Elvis at home
Priscilla “wasn't really happy” about the ending
During her panel on February 7, Presley shared insights into her interactions with Coppola leading up to Priscilla. The Lost in Translation and Marie Antoinette director had never met Presley in person but contacted her via phone to ask permission to make a movie about her relationship with Elvis.
While she was “quite honored” Coppola wanted to adapt her book, Presley, admitted she wasn’t happy with one important sequence from the completed movie. “The only thing was the ending. I wasn’t really happy about the ending. It didn’t end that way, and we ended—Elvis and I ended very lovingly,” she said at the panel, according to People.
The film depicts Priscilla confronting Elvis at his hotel room after a 1973 performance in Las Vegas and informing the singer of her plans to divorce him. After one final stop at the Graceland mansion, she drives away—seemingly moving on from their relationship.
But in reality, Priscilla explained, the pair maintained a close friendship until Elvis’ untimely death in 1977. “We still we kept our relationship. We did. He would drop by my home unannounced, and I was going with someone by the way, and he would come unannounced,” she explained at the recent panel. “Thank God it was two o’clock in the morning, and I knew who it was, so I quickly tried to get to the door before he rang the doorbell, and of course he came in, we went in the kitchen, we talked for a couple of hours.”
The movie divided the Presley family
Despite this deviation from the true story, Priscilla previously praised the movie and Spaeny’s performance. She lauded Coppola for “an amazing job” during a news conference for the film’s premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Other Presley family members and friends, however, didn’t shied away from voicing their displeasure.
Elvis and Priscilla’s daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, called the script “vengeful and contemptuous,” according to Variety. Concerned the portrayal of her father appeared predatory, she reportedly emailed Coppola to request changes. Lisa Marie never got to see the finished project. She died unexpectedly in January 2023, months before the movie released.
Similarly, members of the Elvis Presley Estate called the film “a money grab” and refused permission for Coppola to use recordings of the singer’s music.
Following her mother’s death and a contentious court dispute over Lisa Marie’s estate with Priscilla, actor Riley Keough became the standard-bearer of the Presley family legacy. The Daisy Jones & the Six star, 35, hasn’t spoken publicly about the movie.
Tyler Piccotti joined the Biography.com staff as an Associate News Editor and is now the News and Culture Editor. He previously worked as a reporter and copy editor for a daily newspaper recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors. In his current role, he shares the true stories behind your favorite movies and TV shows and profiles rising musicians, actors, and athletes. When he's not working, you can find him at the nearest amusement park or movie theater and cheering on his favorite teams.
