Sad news for G-Eazy. The rapper was campaigning to take on the role of Elvis Presley in the last few weeks, but the role has been given to someone else. Director Baz Luhrmann has casted Austin Butler to play The King of Rock and Roll in his untitled drama.

The Warner Bros movie is going to cover the singer’s growth from dirt poor to global icon and highlight his relationship with his manager Colonel Tom Parker, which will be played by Tom Hanks.

Butler may have been the better choice over G-Eazy because of the acting experience over the rapper, who does not have acting on his resume. Butler made his Broadway debut in 2018 but has acted in roles previously such as in The Carrie Diaries, Zoey 101, and Switched at Birth.

Luhrmann said “I knew I couldn’t make this film if the casting wasn’t absolutely right, … I had heard about Austin Butler from his stand-out role opposite Denzel Washington in The Iceman Cometh on Broadway, … I knew unequivocally that I had found someone who could embody the spirit of one of the world’s most iconic musical figures.”

Butler posted a picture on his Instagram with lyrics from Elvis’ song Love Me Tender to express his feelings about the news:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz8sg24Bw6y/

The actor looks so much like the late singer which probably played a part in his casting. Filming will begin early next year in Australia and Butler will certainly make a great Elvis!

(Deadline)