Lisa Marie Presley's furious row with Priscilla director over 'predator' Elvis

03 November 2023 , 14:53

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Lisa Marie Presley's furious row with Priscilla director over 'predator' Elvis

Lisa Marie Presley is said to have unleashed a blistering rant against Sofia Coppalo for her depiction of her late dad, Elvis.

Sofia was the director behind the 2023 biopic, Priscilla, focusing on her mum and her relationship with the King of Rock 'n' Roll. At the time of Elvis and Priscilla's meeting, he was 24 and she was just 14.

Priscilla, which dramatises Priscilla and Elvis' romance, has been released across the world today. Priscilla and Elvis' only daughter Lisa Marie died in January this year at age 54.

Before her death, Lisa wasn't entirely happy with how her dad, who died in 1997, was depicted in the newly-released movie. Lisa was said to be furious and sent a string of emails to director Sofia following her belief the movie made her dad look like a "predator". Lisa who died aged 54, explained that the biopic based on her mum could cause strain to their relationship.

Lisa Marie Presley is said to have blasted Sofia Coppola over her portrayal of her dad Elvis (NBC via Getty Images)

Sofia is accused of making Elvis appear as a 'predator' (Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)

"My father only comes across as a predator and manipulative," Lisa wrote in one email, obtained by Variety. The late singer and actress went on to say: "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?"

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In the two emails sent in September 2022, Lisa went on to say that, should the film go ahead, she will be faced with no choice but to publicly share her views, explaining: "I will have to openly say how I feel about the film and go against you, my mother and this film publicly." Priscilla is credited as an executive producer on the movie starring Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elorid. She told Sofia: "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."

Despite Lisa's concerns, Priscilla believes the biopic was an accurate portrayal (Getty Images)

Priscilla added that she did not understand Sofia's "need" to "take Elvis down" by using a film to share her "dark and jaded reality". Lisa explained that she was worried that her mother was not aware of the way Elvis would be perceived upon the release of the movie.

Lisa Marie's children, Riley Keough and Benajmin Jeough, who died in 2020, had asked about the movie and she told them that they would have to "endure another hit" as the film portrayed a negative story about their grandfather, who they never met. Meanwhile, Priscilla told Piers Morgan that the flick was an accurate depiction of their romance.

Priscilla told the TalkTV broadcaster: "I was happy because it had a standing ovation. I was happy for Sofia [Coppola]. She was quite nervous about it. I think she did some homework."

Daniel Bird