Tom Hanks in talks to join untitled Elvis biopic as Presley’s manager

Tom Hanks is in talks to star in an upcoming Elvis Presley biopic as the rock legend’s famous manager, “Colonel” Tom Parker.

Baz Luhrmann is set to direct the film, with Warner Bros. distributing and Presley yet to be cast. Born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk in the Netherlands and emigrating to America at the age of 18, Parker got into the music industry during the Great Depression and discovered Elvis Presley, slowly navigating the world of contracts to take over as his manager.

With Presley under his management, Parker built him into the King of Rock, negotiating his first RCA contract for a then-unheard of $40,000. Presley went on to take the world by storm with his first hit single “Heartbreak Hotel” in 1956, as Parker later built the foundations for the star’s movie career and his famous comeback tour after he served in the Army for two years.

Tom Parker would be the latest addition to a long list of biopic roles Tom Hanks has taken over his career. Others include Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee in “The Post,” Walt Disney in “Saving Mr. Banks,” and Capt. Chelsey Sullenberger in “Sully.” Hanks is also set to appear as Fred Rogers in Marielle Heller’s upcoming film “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.”

Outside of biopics, Hanks will appear in the World War II film “Greyhound” and reprise his role as Woody in Disney/Pixar’s “Toy Story 4,” with both films coming out this summer. He is repped by CAA. This casting was first reported by Variety.

Read original story Tom Hanks in Talks to Join Untitled Elvis Biopic as Presley’s Manager At TheWrap