Elvis Presley Stage Show in Development as Baz Luhrmann Confirms New Musical Project

A stage musical based on the life of Elvis Presley is officially in development, with filmmaker Baz Luhrmann confirming that work on the production is already underway.

Speaking in a recent radio interview, Luhrmann revealed that the long rumoured stage adaptation has moved beyond the conceptual phase and is now actively being developed. While he suggested the announcement may have been premature, he made it clear that the project is progressing.

Luhrmann also confirmed that he will not direct the stage production himself. The filmmaker pointed to his earlier decision to hand over the theatrical adaptation of Moulin Rouge to director Alex Timbers, indicating that he prefers to entrust stage versions of his cinematic work to other creative voices. The forthcoming Elvis musical will follow a similar path, with Luhrmann involved in its broader creative development rather than leading it directly.

The stage project marks the third major Elvis centred production connected to Luhrmann. His 2022 feature film Elvis, starring Austin Butler in the title role alongside Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker, was both a commercial and critical success. The film earned eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Actor for Butler, as well as nominations for Best Picture, Cinematography, Costume Design, Film Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling, Production Design and Sound.

Luhrmann has continued to explore Presley’s story through a new documentary concert experience, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert. The film presents the performer’s life through restored archival footage and interviews, allowing Presley’s own words and performances to guide the narrative. The documentary is set for an exclusive one week IMAX release beginning February 20, 2026, before expanding to theatres worldwide from February 27.

Details about the creative team, structure or timeline for the proposed stage musical have not yet been announced. It remains unclear whether the production will follow a traditional biographical format or adopt a more stylised theatrical approach in line with Luhrmann’s signature aesthetic.

With the global success of Elvis and renewed interest in Presley’s cultural legacy, a Broadway or West End stage adaptation would continue the wave of high profile music biographical musicals that have resonated with audiences in recent years. For now, Luhrmann’s confirmation signals that the King of Rock and Roll may soon return to the spotlight, this time under the proscenium arch.

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