Elvis Presley traded his iconic white jumpsuit for a jet pack, diving into a secret government spy program in the animated series “Agent Elvis”. The show, co-created by Priscilla Presley and John Eddie, with Mike Arnold as showrunner, imagines a covert life for the King of Rock and Roll, battling dark forces while maintaining his legendary status as a performer.
“Elvis had kind of a sick sense of humor,” Priscilla Presley revealed at a screening for the series at the Netflix Tudum Theater on March 7. The animated format was a deliberate choice, as co-creator John Eddie explained, “He said he always wanted to be the hero in the comic book. That was why we made it as opposed to doing a live action thing. We specifically wanted to do animated. I’ve been a big Elvis fan since I was a little kid. Even as great as anybody does it, they can never capture Elvis’ look. He was such a beautiful man.” The storylines, while wild, are “based in some form of Elvis’ life”.
Matthew McConaughey lends his voice to the legendary singer, capturing his distinctive Southern drawl. “He’s got that Southern voice,” Presley noted. “That deep voice. We discussed other people, but Matthew just kept coming into mind. He’s such a professional and we knew he would do a great job speaking for Elvis. I loved him in it. He has that Southern drawl. Elvis did too in many ways.” McConaughey’s casting as the King was a natural fit, bringing a unique gravitas to the animated portrayal.
The ensemble cast supporting McConaughey includes Kaitlin Olson, Don Cheadle, Johnny Knoxville, Niecy Nash, Priscilla Presley herself, and Tom Kenny as Scatter, Elvis’ mischievous chimpanzee. Showrunner Mike Arnold emphasized the careful creation of distinct character voices: “From episode to episode we made a very deliberate attempt to create our own vocabulary for each character,” Arnold stated. “Every character has their own voice and they’re all singing together in their own way.”
Priscilla Presley recalled a particularly memorable experience on the show, involving Scatter’s antics. “The most memorable thing I think is Scatter though,” she shared. “Scatter did all those things. Scatter escaped. Scatter went into peoples’ windows. I was there when that happened. We had a place in Bel Air and he escaped a lot and the neighbors wanted us to get rid of him. Can you imagine him peeking in their windows and they’re like, ‘What is this creature? Get him out of here!’ Scatter is the real deal.” This anecdote highlights the blend of reality and fantasy that permeates the series.
“Agent Elvis” premiered on Netflix on March 17. The series offers a playful and action-packed reimagining of Elvis Presley’s legacy, blending his iconic persona with the thrill of espionage. It invites viewers to explore a fantastical dimension of the King’s life, filled with humor, adventure, and a unique appreciation for his enduring cultural impact.
References
- Gold Derby. (n.d.). Agent Elvis. Retrieved from https://www.goldderby.com/t/agent-elvis/
- Gold Derby. (n.d.). Elvis Presley. Retrieved from https://www.goldderby.com/t/elvis-presley/
- Gold Derby. (n.d.). Priscilla Presley. Retrieved from https://www.goldderby.com/t/priscilla-presley/
- Gold Derby. (n.d.). Netflix. Retrieved from https://www.goldderby.com/t/netflix/
- Gold Derby. (2023, March 13). Matthew McConaughey is the King in Netflix’s ‘Agent Elvis’. Retrieved from https://www.goldderby.com/article/2023/netflix-agent-elvis-trailer/