Colonel Tom Parker Biographer Says Tom Hanks’ Elvis Movie Accent Isn’t Accurate



Tom Hanks has drawn some praise with his performance as Col. Tom Parker in Elvis, but not everyone is convinced by the portrayal. Directed by Baz Luhrmann, the movie is not a traditional musician biopic as it’s a film that explores Elvis Presley’s rise through the eyes of his manager. Hanks looks almost unrecognizable in the role, and to play Col. Parker, the actor also employed a unique accent.

Per Variety, Col. Parker biographer Alanna Nash has taken exception to Hanks’ accent in the film. Nash is someone who spent a lot of time researching Parker’s life as the author of The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley. Asked if Hanks managed to capture Parker’s voice, Nash said that was not the case and offered an explanation.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

“No. It was more American, more rural. And he had what sounded like a slight lisp or speech impediment. Turns out he didn’t have an impediment — he was just trying to wrap a Dutch tongue around the English language, Southern-style. It sounded like a weird (Southern) regional dialect, and you would know it was Dutch only by listening for certain consonants. But Baz wanted to make him seem more ‘other.’ Or as Baz told me in an interview, ‘I thought it was very important that Tom present the audience with a strangeness, a sort of ‘What is going on with this guy?’”

Related: Elvis Review: Too Much Tom Hanks Steals Austin Butler’s Thunder

Did Tom Parker Not Get His Due in Elvis?

Warner Bros. Pictures

Nash did say that there are some things Baz Luhrmann got right with Elvis. This includes the suggestion that Parker did all he could to prevent Presley from fulfilling his dream of embarking on a European tour. It was unfortunate for Presley, as the reason had nothing to do with the singer but with Parker’s lack of a passport.

“Parker had no passport and couldn’t go and didn’t trust any other promoter to take him. He cited several reasons — primarily security — and not big enough venues, or said the money wasn’t right. Near the end of his life, Parker is said to have been speaking with two promoters about this, since Elvis was so deeply unhappy about never getting to go tour Europe, but it never happened.”

While agreeing that Parker had crossed some lines as a manager, Nash feels that he also deserves more credit for the good things he’d done for Presley. In that regard, Nash says Luhrmann didn’t sufficiently give Parker his due with the Elvis movie.

“The Colonel is a complicated character, and while he always took too much of Presley’s money, he made some very sound decisions for him. Luhrmann hasn’t really given him his due by a long shot.”

Elvis is now playing in movie theaters. The film is rated PG-13 for substance abuse, strong language, suggestive material, and smoking. It stars Austin Butler as the King of Rock and Roll alongside Tom Hanks as Col. Tom Parker, with other stars incuding Olivia DeJonge, Helen Thomson, Richard Roxburgh, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Xavier Samuel, and Kodi Smit-McPhee.

You can view the original article HERE.

Sydney Sweeney & Emily Ratajkowski Wear Matching Dresses For Modeling Shoot
Sydney Sweeney & Emily Ratajkowski Wear Matching Dresses For Modeling Shoot
Miley Cyrus Stuns in Mugler for “End of the World” Music Video
Miley Cyrus Stuns in Mugler for “End of the World” Music Video
‘Narcos’ Star Manuel Masalva in Coma After Contracting Infection, Friend Says
‘Narcos’ Star Manuel Masalva in Coma After Contracting Infection, Friend Says
Megan Thee Stallion Declares “Hot Girl Summer” is Loading with New Chicas Divertidas Campaign
Megan Thee Stallion Declares “Hot Girl Summer” is Loading with New Chicas Divertidas Campaign
13 Reviews by Roger Ebert for the 2025 Day4Empathy | Roger Ebert
13 Reviews by Roger Ebert for the 2025 Day4Empathy | Roger Ebert
Liam Neeson’s ‘The Naked Gun’ Trailer Slammed by David Zucker’s involvement With Porn Comparison
Liam Neeson’s ‘The Naked Gun’ Trailer Slammed by David Zucker’s involvement With Porn Comparison
Glen Campbell Biopic Director Explains the Casting & Story
Glen Campbell Biopic Director Explains the Casting & Story
“Hacks” Returns at the Peak of Its Comedic Powers | TV/Streaming
“Hacks” Returns at the Peak of Its Comedic Powers | TV/Streaming
Artists get paid when you actually buy CD or vinyl
Artists get paid when you actually buy CD or vinyl
Bill Burr told Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder “I hated your band” at ‘SNL50’
Bill Burr told Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder “I hated your band” at ‘SNL50’
Russell Brand responds to rape and sexual assault charges
Russell Brand responds to rape and sexual assault charges
JAY B 2025 ‘Tape: Re Load’ world tour: tickets, dates and more
JAY B 2025 ‘Tape: Re Load’ world tour: tickets, dates and more
Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Started with Slot Games Online Real Money
Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Started with Slot Games Online Real Money
Giannis records historic 35-15-20 stat line in win over 76ers
Giannis records historic 35-15-20 stat line in win over 76ers
Doncic owns ‘unacceptable’ showing in Lakers’ loss to Warriors
Doncic owns ‘unacceptable’ showing in Lakers’ loss to Warriors
Embiid to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery
Embiid to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery
Channing Tatum’s ‘Jupiter Ascending’ Isn’t as Bad as Everyone Said
Channing Tatum’s ‘Jupiter Ascending’ Isn’t as Bad as Everyone Said
Fire Country Season 3 Episode 16 is One of the Best Episodes, but One Main Character Vehemently Disagrees
Fire Country Season 3 Episode 16 is One of the Best Episodes, but One Main Character Vehemently Disagrees
Hugh Jackman’s ‘Logan’ Lands New Streaming Home This April
Hugh Jackman’s ‘Logan’ Lands New Streaming Home This April
‘Hell of a Summer’ Stars Discuss Bonding at Camp in Finn Wolfhard & Billy Bryk’s Slasher Comedy
‘Hell of a Summer’ Stars Discuss Bonding at Camp in Finn Wolfhard & Billy Bryk’s Slasher Comedy
Matthew Cancel Celebrates Cancel Communications’ Landmarks & The Big 3-0!
Matthew Cancel Celebrates Cancel Communications’ Landmarks & The Big 3-0!
Anna Wintour Reacts To Radhika Jones’ Exit, Chanel’s New Face!
Anna Wintour Reacts To Radhika Jones’ Exit, Chanel’s New Face!
Jenna Ortega Declared ‘Unrecognizable’ After Latest Appearance
Jenna Ortega Declared ‘Unrecognizable’ After Latest Appearance
BELLE I MODE’s Shannon Lunseth Kotze Is Ready For April Buying Week!
BELLE I MODE’s Shannon Lunseth Kotze Is Ready For April Buying Week!