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Baz Luhrmann Unveils 36 Hours of Never-Before-Seen Elvis Presley Footage: “It Feels Like Meeting Him for the First Time”
LOS ANGELES, CA – Just when fans thought every frame of Elvis Presley had already been unearthed, filmmaker Baz Luhrmann has cracked open the legendary MGM vaults—and what he found is nothing short of extraordinary. Hidden for decades, 36 hours of raw, intimate footage reveal a side of Elvis the world has never truly seen: goofy, funny, vulnerable, and startlingly human.
Among the reels lies nearly 40 minutes of candid conversations where Elvis himself opens up about his life in ways few ever imagined. Far from the polished stage persona in rhinestone jumpsuits, this is Elvis unguarded—laughing at his own jokes, teasing bandmates, sharing doubts, and reflecting on the pressures of being the King of Rock and Roll.
Luhrmann, whose 2022 biopic Elvis reignited global fascination with the icon, says this discovery reshapes our understanding of Presley. “This isn’t Elvis the legend—it’s Elvis the man,” he explained. “You see the sparkle in his eyes, the humor, the hesitations. For the first time, audiences can meet him without the curtain.”
The footage, originally shot by MGM during rehearsals and downtime for Presley’s 1970 documentary Elvis: That’s the Way It Is, was never meant for release. Studio executives deemed it too informal, too raw for public viewing. But in Luhrmann’s hands, those discarded reels have become a treasure trove.
Early screenings have left fans astonished. One attendee remarked, “I thought I knew Elvis, but this feels like meeting him for the first time. He’s not a myth here—he’s a person.” Another said, “Watching him laugh, stumble over words, even admit fears—it makes his music mean so much more.”
The highlight for many is the candid 40-minute sequence where Elvis talks openly about his struggles with fame, the sacrifices of constant touring, and his longing for a normal life. In one striking moment, he reflects, “Sometimes I wonder who I’d be if I wasn’t Elvis Presley. Maybe just a boy from Tupelo who loved to sing.”
Critics are already praising the material as a cultural revelation. “This is the closest we’ve come to hearing Elvis’s true voice outside of his music,” one reviewer wrote. “It’s vulnerable, unfiltered, and deeply moving.”
For Luhrmann, the project isn’t just about reviving old film—it’s about restoring Elvis’s humanity. “He was larger than life, but he was also just a man with hopes, flaws, and a sense of humor,” he noted. “That’s the Elvis I want people to remember.”
With fans eagerly awaiting the full release, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert—powered by this newly discovered footage—promises to redefine what we know about the King. Not as a distant icon, but as a flesh-and-blood man who laughed, doubted, dreamed, and lived.
For those who only knew the myth, this film is an invitation: to meet Elvis Presley, perhaps for the very first time.
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