Elvis Presley’s Wife Priscilla Recalls What Role The Late Legend Wanted To Play On Screen: ‘He Regretted…’

As an ardent fan who’s spent countless hours immersed in the enchanting world of Elvis Presley, I can’t help but feel a pang of melancholy upon learning about the role he could have played in A Star Is Born. The thought of Elvis and Barbra Streisand sharing the silver screen is a tantalizing what-if that leaves me yearning for an alternate universe where Colonel Tom Parker didn’t intervene.


Elvis Presley was an incredible performer on stage, and with his talent, he might have excelled in film as well. Interestingly, Priscilla, his spouse, mentioned a specific movie role that Elvis yearned to take on fiercely, but ultimately declined due to the influence of a significant individual.

As a lifestyle expert looking back at Hollywood history, I’d like to share an interesting tale from 1976. You know Barbra Streisand? Well, she originally envisioned Elvis Presley as her on-screen romantic partner for A Star Is Born. However, his manager, the legendary Colonel Tom Parker, dissuaded him from accepting the role, which ultimately left us without the chance to see “A Little Less Conversation” unfold in a different light on the silver screen.

Although the part ultimately belonged to Kris Kristofferson, Priscilla has shared with PEOPLE insights about her late husband’s feelings regarding that role.

According to the wife of the Burning Love artist, the Colonel persuaded him by saying something like, “It won’t turn out well for you. She will be in control instead, it’s her film, not yours.

She further went on to add, “ Elvis regretted that because he felt he could have played that part.”

Without delving too much into details, let me clarify that after Elvis Presley completed his military service in 1960, he was tied to a string of movie deals for an extended period, orchestrated by his manager.

Jerry Schilling, a close friend of Elvis Presley, reminisced about a time when Presley grew agitated. It happened as Presley, in a fit of anger, hurled a movie script across the room, declaring he wouldn’t be part of that particular film project.

In conversation about Presley’s bond with his Don’t Be Cruel manager, Schilling expressed that their affection for each other was profound. However, he noted that over time, Elvis surpassed the level of guidance provided by the Colonel.

According to the wife of the legendary rock figure, aged 79, Presley expressed a preference for starring in intelligent films rather than those he considered trivial. Furthermore, she stated unequivocally that the film “Girls! Girls! Girls!” did not appeal to him in any way.

She further went on to recall that Parker couldn’t grasp what Elvis Presley wanted to do exactly, which eventually became tough for both her and Jerry as she even stated, “You just had to keep quiet.”

When discussing Elvis’s favorite artists, Schilling mentioned two prominent figures – James Dean, a renowned actor, and Marlon Brando, often referred to as the iconic Godfather of Hollywood cinema.

In our subsequent conversation, Schilling mentioned that after Daen’s passing in 1995, Parker sought out producer Hal Wallis to cast Elvis in the 1958 film, King Creole – a role I was deeply invested in following as a devoted follower.

Later, Hal approached director Michael Curtiz, but initially, he wasn’t sold on the idea. Yet, following a shared meal with Elvis Presley, the singer famed for Can’t Help Falling in Love, Curtiz developed a fondness for him and decided to collaborate on the project together.

In the current Netflix documentary titled “Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley,” you’ll get a glimpse into the intricate dynamics between Elvis Presley and his manager Parker. It’s available for streaming right now.

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2024-11-16 09:07