Lisa Marie Presley hated the Priscilla script, asked Sofia Coppola not to make it
Before her death earlier this year, Lisa Marie Presley expressed shock and horror over the depiction of her father Elvis Presley in the script for Sofia Coppola’s new film “Priscilla”:
“My father only comes across as a predator and manipulative. As his daughter, I don’t read… pic.twitter.com/CODLTytMkn
- Variety (@Variety) November 2, 2023
- 4 months before she died Presley was sending emails to Sofia Coppola about her Priscilla script calling it "vengeful and contemptuous"
- Presley asked Coppola not to make the film with the script as it was saying that if she did Presley would be forced to come out against the movie and condemn Coppola and her mother as well
- Presley also implied her mother was being delusional about how Elvis was coming across in Coppola's movie and would not have participated if she truly understood how Coppola intended to portray her father (the movie was based off of Priscilla Presley's autobiography and she is a producer on the film)
- Coppola responded saying she was trying to treat the subject matter with nuance and sensitivity and she hoped Lisa Marie would change her mind
- Priscilla follows Priscilla Presley's relationship including the start of their relationship when she was a 14 year old child and he was a 24 year old superstar
My father only comes across as a predator and manipulative. As his daughter, I don’t read this and see any of my father in this character. I don’t read this and see my mother’s perspective of my father. I read this and see your shockingly vengeful and contemptuous perspective and I don’t understand why?
I will be forced to be in a position where I will have to openly say how I feel about the film and go against you, my mother and this film publicly.
I am worried that my mother isn’t seeing the nuance here or realizing the way in which Elvis will be perceived when this movie comes out. I feel protective over my mother who has spent her whole life elevating my father’s legacy. I am worried she doesn’t understand the intentions behind this film or the outcome it will have.
I would think of all people that you would understand how this would feel. Why are you coming for my Dad and my family?
Sofia there is one more thing I’d like to add. I had to explain [to daughter Harper] that we are going to have to endure another hit in our lives. That there is going to be a movie about her grandfather that is going to try to make him look really, really bad but it’s not true. I had to explain that her beloved grandmother is supporting it. These two little girls have been through so much in the past 7 years, enduring my divorce and horrific custody battle and then losing their brother. We’ve all been drowning.
[I don't understand your] need to attempt to take my father down on the heels of such an incredible film [Elvis] using the excuse that you are trying to tell my mother’s story, but from your very dark and jaded reality.
Sofia's partial response:
I hope that when you see the final film you will feel differently, and understand I’m taking great care in honoring your mother, while also presenting your father with sensitivity and complexity
source
But who leaked Lisa Marie's emails???