Between Austin Butler and Jacob Elordi, Elvis’s Real Accent Never Stood a Chance

Elvis’s real accent has left the building. Following the release of A24’s “Priscilla” trailer, Jacob Elordi’s thick drawl is already being compared to Austin Butler’s unshakeable Southern twang. “Jacob Elordi looks and sounds like Elvis Presley; much more so than Austin Butler did,” one commenter wrote in reaction to the Oct. 3 video. Others had their doubts.

One person noted that the “goofiness” of Elordi’s Elvis accent might detract from the suspenseful nature of the Sofia Coppola-led film. Some also compared Elordi’s dialect to his hot-headed “Euphoria” character, Nate Jacobs. “Looks good but he sounds a little like the giraffe from the ‘Madagascar’ movie,” a particularly candid viewer wrote, referencing David Schwimmer’s lovable Melman.

Of course, Butler was not immune from accent-centric criticism either. Throughout his reign as the king of rock n’ roll, the rigorous schedule for Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” seemed to take a toll on his Southern California vocals. His movie accent intercepted speeches, popped up in daily conversations, and even became the subject of interviews, forcing him to evaluate just how immersed he really was. “I don’t think I sound like him still, but I guess [it must be] because I hear it a lot,” he told Variety in the press room at the 2023 Golden Globes. “I had three years where [Elvis] was my only focus in life, so I’m sure there’s just pieces of my DNA that will always be linked in that way.”

Now Elordi gets to take a turn in the proverbial hot seat, portraying a darker side to Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s relationship with a deep, gravelly accent to match. Elordi is used to playing the villain, and maybe that’s why his take on the elusive accent already seems somewhat familiar. At this point though, we’re not convinced any actor will completely nail it. Ultimately, both versions are artistic portrayals and should be treated as such. No matter what, the Elvis accent has reentered the cultural zeitgeist, and that’s what counts.