"Priscilla" Film Depicts Life of Priscilla Presley Without Elvis Songs Despite Controversy

Film faces criticism from Lisa Marie Presley for portrayal of Elvis while omitting his songs, focusing instead on other period music and a final scene score of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You".

The film 'Priscilla' portrays the life of Priscilla Presley, focusing mainly on her relationship with Elvis Presley, from their first meeting when she was 14 and he was 24, to their 1967 marriage and eventual divorce.
Music supervisor Randall Poster speaks on the decision to not include Elvis' music in the film, stating that it was a challenging process as they initially expected to have some of Elvis' music. The ownership rights were held by an anonymous company, making it difficult to obtain.
Despite not having any Elvis songs, the film 'Priscilla' still tried to capture Elvis' musical presence by recreating a few songs that were in the public domain, such as 'Guitar Man', performed by a renowned Elvis impersonator.
The film has faced criticism from Lisa Marie Presley, Priscillas and Elvis' daughter, for the depiction of Elvis as controlling and sometimes abusive. She expressed concerns about how the portrayal of her father might impact her family's legacy.
Actress Cailee Spaeny, portraying Priscilla in the film, received Priscilla Presley's endorsement. Spaeny mentioned that Priscilla commended her for her performance after watching the film.
Sofia Coppola's film closes with a prominent scene featuring Dolly Parton's 'I Will Always Love You', providing a multi-layered significance considering Parton originally wrote the song for Elvis.