Okay, So Jacob Elordi as Elvis Wasn’t His Vibe at First
Jacob Elordi as Elvis Presley in Priscilla? Yo, I’m still kinda shook about how he almost passed on that. I’m typing this in my cramped Queens apartment, my coffee mug leaving rings on a thrift-store table, and I’m just thinking—how do you say no to playing the King? Like, I spilled coffee on my keyboard earlier (oops, sticky keys now), and that’s the kinda chaos I’m bringing to this story. I read somewhere on Variety that Elordi was not into the idea at first, and I get it, man. I once bailed on a poetry slam ‘cause I was scared I’d flub my lines and look like a total dork. But Jacob Elordi as Elvis? That’s next-level pressure, and I’m obsessed with why he changed his mind.
H2: Why Jacob Elordi as Elvis Was a Hard No (At First)
So, I’m scrolling X last week, probably eating cold leftover tacos, and I see this post about Elordi not wanting to touch Elvis with a ten-foot pole. My brain did a double-take. According to a GQ piece from 2023, Elordi called his Kissing Booth days “ridiculous” and only did ‘em to get his foot in the Hollywood door. So when Sofia Coppola pitched him for Priscilla, he was like, “Elvis? Pass.” I totally vibe with that. I tried to be the “fun” friend who hosts game nights, but I panicked and canceled ‘cause I didn’t want to be the guy who burns the pizza. Elordi was coming off Euphoria, killing it as Nate Jacobs, this intense, messed-up dude, and he didn’t want to be stuck playing another heartthrob icon.
He was worried Elvis would box him in, ya know? Like, he’s 6’5”, all brooding and gorgeous, but he wanted roles with grit, not just “look pretty and sing.” I did that once—tried to be the “polished” intern at a marketing gig, faking confidence in meetings, but I was sweating bullets and forgot half my lines. Elordi didn’t want to be a caricature, and I respect the hell outta that.
H3: Sofia Coppola’s Magic Made Jacob Elordi as Elvis Happen
So what got him to say yes? Sofia freaking Coppola, that’s what. I’m sitting here, rain smacking my window, and I’m picturing her talking to Elordi in some cozy LA café, all soft-spoken but intense. She saw him as Elvis—not the sparkly jumpsuit guy, but the complicated dude from Elvis and Me, the book Priscilla’s based on. She told him his vibe, how people just stare at him, was pure Elvis energy. That’s some next-level persuasion. I had a moment like that when my barista friend said I’d be great at open mic night, even though I’d just spilled latte foam all over my shirt. Someone believing in you? It’s a game-changer.
Coppola’s Priscilla wasn’t about Elvis the legend but Elvis the human—charming, controlling, a little broken. Elordi dug that angle. Vanity Fair said he “calibrates Elvis’s allure with his darker side,” and I’m like, yup, nailed it. He didn’t want to do a cheesy Elvis impersonation, and Coppola let him play it real. I tried copying my coworker’s slick presentation style once, and it was a disaster—slides out of order, me stammering. Elordi, though? He found the soul of Elvis, and I’m still not over it.
H2: How Jacob Elordi as Elvis Broke Me (In a Good Way)
Real talk: Jacob Elordi as Elvis hit me harder than I expected. I watched Priscilla in a sketchy little theater in Bushwick, the kind with sticky floors and overpriced IPAs. His Elvis wasn’t the cartoon King I grew up with, my mom blasting Jailhouse Rock while vacuuming. Elordi’s Elvis was raw, magnetic, and kinda terrifying—like when he snaps at Priscilla, all quiet rage. It reminded me of the time I got mad at my roommate for eating my leftover lo mein, and I felt like garbage after. That realness? Elordi brought it, and I was texting my friend about it at 2 a.m., probably annoying her.
Critics ate it up too. PinkNews said Elordi got “heaps of praise” for his role, and I’m over here nodding like a bobblehead. He didn’t even use a vocal coach—just watched some Elvis clips and winged it. I tried learning a Boston accent for a skit once by binging YouTube, and I sounded like a drunk pirate. Elordi, though, made it work, even if some X users griped about his accent. Haters gonna hate, but he made Elvis feel like a dude you could know, not a myth.
H2: Tips for Tackling Big Roles Like Jacob Elordi as Elvis
I’m no actor, but I’ve had to fake it till I make it plenty, like when I pitched a blog idea to my editor while my voice was shaking like a leaf. Elordi’s journey as Elvis got me thinking about how to handle big, scary roles—on screen or just in life. Here’s my take, with some of my own screw-ups mixed in:
- Trust the hype squad. Coppola saw Elordi’s potential when he didn’t. My coworker once pushed me to lead a team meeting, and I was sure I’d crash, but it went okay. Find your cheerleader.
- Own the mess. Elordi leaned into Elvis’s flaws, and it worked. I tried hiding a typo in a work email once, and it backfired. Be real, even if it’s ugly.
- Don’t overthink it. Elordi barely prepped and still slayed. I overplanned a date once, and it was awkward as hell. Trust your instincts sometimes.
- Know your why. Elordi connected with Coppola’s vision. I’m writing this ‘cause I’m obsessed with movies, even if I ramble too much. Find what lights you up.
H2: Why Jacob Elordi as Elvis Is Still Living Rent-Free in My Head
Alright, I’m sprawled on my couch, takeout container of half-eaten dumplings next to me, and I’m still not over Jacob Elordi as Elvis. It’s not just ‘cause he’s stupidly tall or has that intense stare—though, like, yeah, that’s a factor. It’s how he took a role he was scared of and made it so real I forgot I was watching a movie. I’ve been feeling stuck lately, wondering if I’m any good at writing or if I should just stick to doomscrolling X. But Elordi’s leap, with Coppola’s nudge, makes me wanna take risks, even if I might flop.
If you’re as obsessed with Jacob Elordi as Elvis as I am, hit me up in the comments or yell about it on X. Maybe rewatch Priscilla on streaming—I’m def doing it this weekend, coffee stains and all. What’s your hot take on his Elvis? Spill it!
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