The Elvis project had been collecting dust on Warner Bros.' shelves for years, untouched and seemingly forgotten—until it was finally given the green light for production.
Baz Luhrmann, the visionary director behind The Great Gatsby, was chosen to bring the film to life.
He had been working on the script since 2014, meticulously crafting a story that would do justice to the King of Rock and Roll. Given his track record of success, Warner Bros. largely stayed out of his way, allowing him significant creative control over the project.
As production moved forward, casting directors Nikki Barrett and Denise Chamian began the daunting task of finding the perfect Elvis.
They had a shortlist of promising contenders, including Harry Styles, Ansel Elgort, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Miles Teller—all talented, all capable, but none quite capturing the essence of Elvis Presley.
Then there was Lucas Knight.
At first, Luhrmann wasn't convinced. Lucas was already a global superstar, a household name in his own right. Casting someone so iconic could be distracting; the audience might see Lucas Knight rather than Elvis Presley. He doubted Lucas could fully transform into the role.
That skepticism, however, was shattered the moment Luhrmann stumbled upon footage of Lucas's Jailhouse Rock performance at his first concert.
What he saw left him speechless.
The way Lucas moved, the way he commanded the audience, the raw charisma—everything about his performance felt eerily authentic.
What made it even more astonishing was that Jailhouse Rock wasn't an Elvis song at all—it was one of Lucas's own originals. And yet, it felt like something the King would have sung.
In that moment, any doubts he had disappeared. Lucas was Elvis.
Without hesitation, Baz Luhrmann made his decision. Lucas Knight would take on the role of a lifetime.
---
At home, Lucas sifted through a stack of scripts, carefully evaluating the projects that had been offered to him. A few caught his attention, but one stood out—Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
The idea of working with Leonardo DiCaprio again intrigued him. It had been years since Inception, and he was curious to see how their dynamic would play out in a different setting. Tarantino's name attached to the project only made it more tempting.
However, another script demanded his attention—Elvis, a Warner Bros. biopic about the King of Rock 'n' Roll.
Lucas's relationship with Warner Bros. had become neutral after Barry resigned.
The new CEO, Kevin, wasn't someone he had a strong connection with.
And there was another complication—Vince Knight was still associated with the studio. The idea of walking into Warner Bros. and potentially running into his father was far from appealing. If Barry had still been there, it wouldn't have mattered. Now, it was an entirely different atmosphere.
But ultimately, Lucas wasn't one to let personal discomfort dictate his career choices. Elvis was a major opportunity, and he wasn't about to let it slip away over old wounds.
Decision made, Lucas headed to the Warner Bros. headquarters.
His arrival didn't go unnoticed. Paparazzi were quick to snap photos of him entering the building, and within hours, the internet was buzzing with speculation.
Was he negotiating a new deal? Joining a major franchise? Returning to work with Warner Bros. in a significant capacity?
The excitement only intensified when Warner Bros. officially announced that Lucas Knight had been cast in "Taking Care of Business", the working title for their upcoming Elvis biopic.
The biggest shock, however, came when reports surfaced that Warner Bros. had offered Lucas a staggering $30 million for the role. The paycheck was undisclosed in the official press release, but news outlets quickly picked up insider information, sending fans into a frenzy.
Social media erupted with discussions, the internet flooded with speculation and wild theories.
"Lucas is really operating on a whole different level now... $30 million?! I won't make that in ten lifetimes."
"Damn, Warner Bros. really loves this guy. First, they gave him a massive paycheck for Joker—now this? Could this be Joker 2?"
"Taking Care of Business? That sounds way too vague. I bet it's just a cover-up for Joker's sequel."
Fans were stunned by the astronomical paycheck, but more than that, curiosity was at an all-time high. What kind of project was Warner Bros. willing to throw such a massive sum at?
Speculation ran wild.
"Is Lucas finally joining the DC Universe? Maybe he's playing Superman after being Joker!"
"Forget Superman. What if he's the next Batman?"
"Lucas as Batman? Superman? Nah, I'm 99% sure this is Joker 2. That movie was a massive hit, and Warner Bros. would be crazy not to bring him back."
Theories flooded forums and social media, each more outlandish than the last. Yet, not a single person guessed the truth—Lucas wasn't donning a cape, nor was he painting his face white again.
The reality?
He was about to step into the shoes of Elvis Presley.
***
Days had passed since Lucas officially accepted the role of Elvis, with Warner Bros. finalizing the deal at $32 million—a figure that even TMZ had initially underestimated by $2 million.
Given the sheer amount, it was no wonder people assumed it had to be a DC Universe project. Historically, only superhero blockbusters commanded such massive paychecks.
However, Warner Bros. had no hesitation in offering the sum once Lucas performed Unchained Melody in front of Bahz Luhrmann and the producers. The moment he hit the final note, any lingering doubts about him embodying Elvis vanished. That performance alone sealed the deal.
From that point on, Bahz was fully convinced—Lucas was Elvis.
Day after day, Lucas headed to Warner Bros. HQ, meeting privately with Bahz and the team to discuss the role. At the same time, the casting directors worked tirelessly to fill out the rest of the ensemble.
Weeks passed, and the cast slowly came together. Olivia DeJonge, a young actress on the rise, had just turned 19 that April when she was cast as Priscilla Presley, stepping into the role of Elvis's iconic partner.
Richard Roxburgh and Helen Thomson were chosen to portray Elvis's parents, adding depth to the family dynamic at the heart of the story.
Then came the biggest name attached to the project—Tom Hanks. His involvement in Taking Care of Business sent waves through the industry, though Warner Bros. remained tight-lipped about his exact role.
Speculation ran wild, with many convinced that Tom Hanks' involvement meant Taking Care of Business was a secret DC project—possibly even Joker 2. Fans eagerly theorized, convinced that Warner Bros. was merely trying to keep a big reveal under wraps. However, their hopes were dashed when the studio officially announced that the film had no connection to Joker or the DC Universe.
Disappointed fans weren't entirely convinced. Some insisted Warner Bros. was lying to maintain secrecy, while others began to dig for clues about the true nature of the film. The mystery surrounding Taking Care of Business only deepened.
Meanwhile, Lucas arrived at a scheduled meet-and-greet with the rest of the cast. One of the first people he met was Olivia DeJonge, the young actress set to portray Priscilla Presley.
"Hi, it's a pleasure to meet you," Olivia said, offering a bright, professional smile. "I'm Olivia DeJonge."
Lucas returned the smile as he shook her hand. "Nice to meet you, Olivia. Looking forward to working together."
She looked at him, trying to gauge his personality. Having met her fair share of actors, Olivia knew that some could be cold and arrogant behind closed doors, especially ones as famous as Lucas. She half-expected him to be distant or indifferent, but to her surprise, he was approachable—charming, even.
"Same here," Olivia replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. There was a hint of shyness in her voice, though she kept her composure.
After Olivia, Lucas met the other cast members, including veterans Richard Roxburgh and Helen Thomson, both of whom exuded experience and warmth. But the biggest presence in the room was, without a doubt, Tom Hanks.
As one of Hollywood's most respected actors, Tom had a way of instantly making everyone feel comfortable. Olivia, like many others, felt both excited and nervous around him. However, she quickly realized that, much like Lucas, Tom was down-to-earth and easy to talk to.
Tom shook Lucas' hand firmly, a knowing smile on his face. "I heard you're known for your method acting," he said with a chuckle. "I was half-expecting you to call me by my character's name the moment we met."
The room laughed, and Olivia stole a glance at Lucas, remembering the infamous stories about method actors—how some would stay in character the entire shoot, refusing to break even off-camera, often at the expense of their co-stars' patience.
Lucas smirked. "You do realize your character's name is Tom, right?" he quipped. "I could have gone full method and you wouldn't even know."
Tom let out a hearty laugh, shaking his head. "Touché."
Lucas smirked at Tom. "I was actually expecting the Tom Hanks to be deep into method acting too. Thought you might call me Elvis the moment we met."
Tom chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm not that kind of actor. You won't catch me preparing for months just to live and breathe a role 24/7. That's Daniel Day-Lewis' department." He paused, his tone turning thoughtful. "I respect the dedication, but I think there's a fine line between immersion and self-destruction. Acting shouldn't come at the cost of your mental health."
The room went silent for a beat.
Everyone instinctively glanced at Lucas, half-expecting him to be offended. After all, his performance in Joker was legendary, but it had also been the result of intense, grueling method acting that left him visibly drained.
But Lucas only nodded, completely unfazed. "I agree. There are healthier ways to approach acting without losing yourself in the process."
Tom raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. He had braced himself for a debate—maybe even a clash of ideologies between a young, committed method actor and a seasoned veteran.
He was prepared to stand his ground, confident that the studio would back him. After all, he couldn't stand actors who brought their roles off-camera, making life on set unbearable.
But Lucas wasn't what he expected. He wasn't defensive. He wasn't stubborn. He was open-minded.
Tom studied him for a moment before breaking into a smile. "Well," he said, "looks like I don't have to prepare a long speech about why I won't call you Elvis at craft services."
The tension in the room dissolved into laughter. What could have been a tense standoff turned into an honest discussion about the craft.
Lucas grinned. "That's a relief. I'd hate to start a war over whether or not I should grow sideburns in character."
The conversation that followed was less of a debate and more of an exchange—two actors from different generations sharing their perspectives on the art of performance. And in that moment, any doubts Tom had about working with Lucas disappeared.