It looks as actor Tom Hanks will soon be adding another high-profile credit to his impressive resume. According to Variety the Oscar winner is in talks to play Elvis Presley’s manager Col. Tom Parker in Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming biopic about the iconic musician.
Parker who was an integral part in Presley’s rise to fame came into Presley's life in early 1955 after the singer had released a few singles on Sun. Parker was first hired to help with bookings and promotion and became his manager a year later. It was Parker who secured Presley’s record deal with RCA, negotiated lucrative merchandising agreements and facilitated the singer’s transition to Hollywood.
Tom Hanks has previously played Jim Lovell in Apollo 13, airline pilot Chesley Sullenberger in Sully, Captain Richard Phillips in Captain Phillips and Walt Disney in Saving Mr. Banks.
No one is yet attached to play Presley in the project, though Luhrmann is said to prefer a newcomer for the part. The director, known for his work on Moulin Rouge! and The Great Gatsby, hopes to move forward with production later this year. They should consider Wolfgang Novogratz!
