How Baz Luhrmann Made Australia Look Like Memphis to Film “Elvis”

Image Source: Everett Collection

The musical biopic “Elvis” tells the detailed story of one of rock and roll’s greatest musicians, Elvis Presley. Directed by Baz Luhrmann, known for “Romeo and Juliet,” “Moulin Rouge,” and “The Great Gatsby,” “Elvis” follows the beloved singer, played by Austin Butler, throughout the ups and downs of his career, especially under the management of Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks).

Outside of his extensive library of music, his showstopping (and oftentimes risqué) live performances, and his gig in acting, Presley is also remembered for the places he once lived, including the Graceland mansion in Memphis, TN, which Presley bought in 1957 for $100,000 shortly after his career began to take off. Over 50 years later, the mansion now operates as a Presley museum of sorts.

As “Elvis” visits the early beginnings of the legendary performer’s career and his rise to fame, many are wondering if his hometown or one of his residences was used as a location to shoot the movie. Ahead of the movie’s worldwide release on June 24, let’s explore where “Elvis” was filmed.

Was “Elvis” Filmed at Graceland Mansion?

Despite Graceland being the famous residence of Presley for several years, Luhrmann did not choose the property as a backdrop for scenes in the film. Instead, the principal photography and shooting of the film took place somewhere quite unexpected, one could argue.

Where Was “Elvis” Filmed?

“Elvis” was filmed in Queensland, Australia. Production of the film took place in the Gold Coast region of Queensland, which sits slightly south of Brisbane along the country’s eastern coast. Regarding the film’s location, Luhrmann, an Australian native, told Australian radio station ABC, “Putting it bluntly, we’ve really fallen in love with the Gold Coast as a place, the people of the Gold Coast, and also the creative energy of the Gold Coast.”

Despite the production of the film taking place across the globe from Presley’s home country, Luhrmann and the production team worked hard to replicate the singer’s past residences, including the notable Graceland estate. According to Vogue, “Luhrmann fully recreated the Colonial Revival mansion in a Queensland studio, along with the sets for Elvis’s Las Vegas performances in the late ’60s and early ’70s.”

While “Elvis” may have been filmed away from the late musician’s home country and state, it still captures the essence of his roots and the places he cherished so dearly. Watch the extraordinary life of Presley in “Elvis,” which hits theatres on June 23.