Priscilla Presley reveals the iconic movie role Elvis regretted not playing

Elvis Presley, widely celebrated for his music and on-stage charisma, also left his mark on the big screen. However, according to his wife, Priscilla Presley, there was one role he deeply regretted turning down.

Priscilla shared in PEOPLE that Barbra Streisand had approached Elvis in 1976, offering him the role of her romantic partner in the film 'A Star Is Born'. Despite being intrigued by the opportunity, Elvis was ultimately convinced by his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, to decline. Priscilla explained that Parker discouraged Elvis, claiming the film would spotlight Streisand rather than Elvis. "Colonel talked him out of it, saying, ‘It’s her movie, not yours,’” she recalled.

The role eventually went to Kris Kristofferson, but Elvis often reflected on the missed chance. “Elvis regretted not doing it because he believed he could have been great in that part,” Priscilla shared.

Elvis’s frustration with his movie career wasn’t new. Locked into long-term contracts by Parker after returning from the Army in 1960, he often felt stifled by the roles he was given. Jerry Schilling, a close friend of Elvis, recalled moments when the rock icon would angrily toss scripts aside, refusing to participate in films he found uninspiring.

Priscilla admitted that Parker struggled to understand Elvis’s creative ambitions, which caused tension for those around him. “You just had to keep quiet,” she said, referring to the difficulties she and others faced in navigating the strained dynamic between Elvis and his manager.

Schilling noted that Elvis admired iconic actors like James Dean and Marlon Brando, and he aspired to take on serious and meaningful roles like theirs. Despite these challenges, Elvis did manage to land some significant roles, including his standout performance in 'King Creole' (1958), which he secured after impressing director Michael Curtiz.

Fans can learn more about Elvis’s complex relationship with Colonel Parker and his artistic journey in the Netflix documentary 'Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley', now streaming.


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