When we JRM fans heard that Jonny had got applied and got the role of Elvis, we all have positive and negative thoughts, like: this is good for his career status, and he does have the looks of Elvis.
But then theres the critics really slating for verious reasons. To me everyone is intitled to have there own oppion.

At first I was not sure about this role, but then one time I was scanning in a picture of him from a photoshoot and I thought he has the facial looks, but he'll need to put a little weight on!

But the more pictures I see of him as Elvis, and all the media coverage, he's the new Elvis!

PICTURES FROM ART KLEINER

These pictures are courtesy by Art Kleiner, who's Limo was used in the series.
He has kindly let me use these pictures. So please don't reporduce these anywhere else without permission from Art.

You can visit some of his sites:

P.S thanx Art for letting me use the pictures :-)

Casting:
Stephen Rue -"Southern Politician"
Erin Wright - "Court Reporter"
Actor/Singer -Johnny Angel
Actor Bryan Lee McGlothin - "Judge"

The CBS mini-series ELVIS started production on January 12, 2005. It will be in production for forty days (will be wrapped 10th March). It is a 4 hour Mini-series

The mini-series will air on CBS in May on:

• Sunday, 8th May, 9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT
  
• Wednesday, 11th May, 8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT

from: FILM FORCE
Variety reports that CBS has finally found its Elvis. According to the trade paper, 27-year-old Irish actor Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (Alexander) has been cast as the young King of Rock n' Roll in the forthcoming CBS miniseries to be directed by James Sadwith from a screenplay by Patrick Sheane Duncan. "He was the first person I'd ever thought of for the role", "I watched Bend It Like Beckham and when you see him, you just say, 'He is Elvis.' But at the time he wasn't available, so we started the search. ... He both has the physical look and the style that embodies Elvis, both the sweetness and the sex appeal."

The nationwide publicity stunt, er, casting search lasted just long enough for Rhys-Meyers' schedule to open up and allow him to accept the role. "Frankly, we never found anyone that really embodied the essence of Elvis," Braunstein added. "There were those who looked like Elvis or sounded like Elvis, but they were imitators, not actors."

Greenblatt reportedly said "Rhys-Myers didn't audition for the gig but did shoot a piece of film in which he was made up like Elvis and showed off his King-ly accent. 'It was uncanny. . .the dialogue sounded so authentic.'"
(taken from film force)

from: FILM FORCE
Elvis & Johnny Cash Are Brothers?! Exclusive casting info on the Elvis mini. January 26, 2005 - IGN FilmForce can exclusively report that the following actors have been cast in the forthcoming CBS miniseries Elvis. Cast as Vernon Presley, father of Elvis (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) and husband of Gladys (Camryn Manheim), is X-Files vet Robert Patrick.

Ironically enough, Patrick is playing the dad of Elvis' pal and Sun Records contemporary Johnny Cash in the Fox biopic Walk the Line. Patrick's other credits include Cop Land and Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

Twenty-three-year-old British actress Antonia Bernath will play Priscilla Beaulieu Presley, the King's wife. The miniseries recounts Elvis' relationship with teenage Priscilla even as he fell for Hollywood starlet Ann-Margret (Rose McGowan).

Bernath appeared in the Bollywood period drama Kisna and has been cast in Living Neon Dreams opposite Marilyn Manson. According to this report, Bernath studied at the Old Vic Theatre School in London but dropped out to star in Kisna.

Also joining the miniseries is Tim Guinee who portrays the man who discovered Elvis, late Sun Records producer Sam Phillips. Guinee's credits include Ladder 49 (opposite Robert Patrick), Blade and John Carpenter's Vampires. He also starred in the short-lived TV series Strange World, and guest-starred on The Practice opposite Elvis co-star Manheim.

Elvis airs in two parts on May 8th and 11th on CBS. James Sadwith directs from a screenplay by Patrick Sheane Duncan. Randy Quaid co-stars as Elvis' manager, Colonel Tom Parker.

from: Webindia123.com
Over the weekend (29/1/05), Antonia flew to New Orleans to start filming the CBS mini-series "Elvis", starring Jonathan Rhys-Meyers and Randy Quaid.

Antonia, who is expecting to meet Priscilla for the first time next week, said: "It is always difficult to portray a real person, particularly someone who is still alive.

"Priscilla first met Elvis when she was 14 and so it is very much about a young girl who is in love with a famous star.

"I have heard that Priscilla has seen the script and although she insisted a couple of scenes be removed she is happy with it."

Antonia has also been signed up to play the part of Alice in "Living Neon Dreams" - a modern-day version of "Alice in Wonderland", which also stars Marilyn Manson, Daryl Hannah and Jonathan Pryce.
(Taken from: Web India 123.com)

From the web news -NEW

GRACELAND, TENN., Feb. 23 -- Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Elvis Presley), Camryn Manheim (Gladys Presley) and Robert Patrick (Vernon Presley), stars of the CBS mini-series ELVIS, traveled from New Orleans to Graceland to film several scenes at Presley’s beloved home.

At Graceland, Rhys Meyers was allowed to sit behind a desk in Vernon Presley’s office and answer questions from the press who came to visit the set. The office was the site of the famous press conference Presley held upon returning from the Army.

While in Memphis, Rhys Meyers purchased a bottle of cologne that was worn by Presley at Lansky’s, a store where Presley used to by his clothes.

Also, Rhys Meyers listens to the Presley song "Big Boss Man" on his iPod prior to shooting each scene and stays in character in between takes while he is on the set.
(Taken from: The Web News Room)

From Film Force

Rhys-Meyers, Quaid talk Elvis.
The Mercury News visited the New Orleans set of the upcoming CBS miniseries Elvis where they chatted with stars Jonathan Rhys-Meyers and Randy Quaid.

Filming was taking place at the Scottish Rite Temple on Carondelet Street, which was doubling as the Dorsey Brothers' Stage Show where Elvis made his TV debut in 1956. Another scene being filmed there is Elvis' 1968 comeback special. Jack Noseworthy (Idle Hands, Dead at 21) portrays Steve Binder, the TV producer who convinced Elvis it was time to forsake playing it safe and return to his rock n' roll roots.

Rhys-Meyers was initially reluctant to portray The King but then, "I thought, `Hold on a minute. I've gotta be brave. I've gotta be brave as I can be.' It's like that for any actor. I'm sure it was daunting for Jamie Foxx when they said, `We want you to play Ray Charles.' But I have the guts to do it, the guts to fall down flat on my face if people don't like it."

The Irish thesp says he was "aware of Elvis Presley's music, but it wasn't something I was particularly into until I got this role. A lot of people my age, they get duped into thinking Elvis Presley was this guy in a jumpsuit on a Vegas stage who was very overweight and sweating profusely and then died in the bathroom. This is what you hear when you're a kid. But I now know he once was a young artist whose medium hadn't really been invented yet."

Quaid had rejected an earlier offer to play Elvis' notorious manager, "Colonel" Tom Parker, but eventually signed on after warming to the script. "I really think it's an open question as to whether Col. Parker led Elvis astray," said Quaid. "As long as Elvis had pocket money and could whip out the cash and buy what he wanted for his friends, he was happy."

"The way I'm playing Parker, it's more of a father-son relationship. The colonel is very adept at sizing people up. From his carnival background, he had a philosophy of either you're being hustled or somebody's being hustled by you. In a way he hustled Elvis. He's selfish in the way he operates, but at the same time he did take care of Elvis' career in such a way that who could argue with the stature of it. If Col. Tom hadn't of been there, would Elvis have attained that popularity?"

The topic of a sequel comes up since Elvis only covers Presley's life and career until 1968. Elvis went into a drug-induced decline after that, dying in 1977. "They'd have to pay me a helluva lot of money, baby!" Rhys-Meyers laughed. "I don't know. Let's see how this one works first. I don't think it's an option right now. I'd have difficulty putting on that weight, first of all. I'd have difficulty taking it off, too."

Quaid added, "there's another 10 years, and there are a lot of warts there. It's amazing how they kept the whole show afloat with what was going down. It's not as romantic as the early years."

Jonathan Rhys Meyers: The Man Who Would Be King February 9, 2005 It isn't easy being king, and the new CBS miniseries, "Elvis," proves just that when it takes a look at the early years of ELVIS PRESLEY's life. Born into poverty in Tupelo, MS, it was a struggle for the young musician to achieve his meteoric rise to fame, especially considering the revolution he created in popular music with his swivel hips and the sneer on his lips.

ET was first on the set at Graceland to capture the day that Elvis presented his parents with their new home. JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS stars as The King, CAMRYN MANHEIM plays his mother GLADYS and ROBERT PATRICK as his father VERNON. Also in the cast are ROSE McGOWAN as ANN-MARGRET and ANTONIA BERNATH plays PRISCILLA BEAULIEU.

"There is a challenge in playing one of America's biggest icons," admits Jonathan, who is best known in the U.S. as the soccer coach in 'Bend it Like Beckham.' "Where does an Irish person get the temerity to play Elvis Presley? When I told the people at home that I was going to play Elvis, first I got a giggle as if I was telling them a joke. Then when they found out I was serious, there was a look of horror."

But the producers were sure they wanted Jonathan. In November, 2004, ET had reported on the extensive search to find someone to play the role. After auditioning more than 500 people, Jonathan's schedule changed, which allowed him to do the movie, so he was snapped up.

"They offered me the part and then they wanted to see if I could really look like Elvis Presley," he recalls. "So at 7 o'clock on a Monday morning, I found myself at Shepperton Studios outside of London. I had no script, so I had no lines. They blackened my hair a little bit and put on some sideburns."

Thanks to the cooperation of the Elvis Presley Estate, the production has unprecedented access to film at Graceland, where the King lived out the last years of his life.

"I have heard about Graceland for years and years and years," admits Camryn, who wasn't a fan of Elvis' before signing on to do this role. "I thought it was strange that people would make this pilgrimage."

But now that she is familiar with all things Elvis, she has had a change of heart. "I have fallen deeply and madly in love with Elvis Presley, what he was, what he stood for and what he brought to our great country," she admits. And she has also done a bit of shopping at Graceland's souvenir shop. "I got an Elvis T-shirt for my son, an Elvis bag and an Elvis clock. I am all Elvised out."

For more on CBS's "Elvis," airing this coming May, tune in to tonight's ET.

There is a video clip of this interview on the site ET behind the scenes at Graceland

*Site opens in a new window*

MORE ELVIS aka Jonny, COMING SOON