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Lisa Marie Presley tragically died aged 54 in January from a bowel obstruction caused by scar tissue that developed after bariatric surgery years ago.
This didn’t mean, however, that Lisa did not get to see the original screenplay for Priscilla and emailed director Sofia Coppola several times in the months before her death.
Variety has now obtained descriptions of the emails Lisa Marie sent to Sofia in September 2022, around four months before her death.
In the emails, Lisa Marie requested Sofia “reconsider her vision” of how her father, Elvis Presley, was portrayed “to spare her family public embarrassment”.
She also claimed that the way Elvis was depicted would cause tension between her and her mum, Priscilla Presley, noting the family was still coping with the death of her son Benjamin Keough in 2020.
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Lisa Marie explained: “My father only comes across as a predator and manipulative.
“As his daughter, I don’t read this and see any of my father in this character. I don’t read this and see my mother’s perspective of my father.
“I read this and see your shockingly vengeful and contemptuous perspective and I don’t understand why?”
Lisa Marie also told Sofia before the production had even begun that she would make sure to “speak out against the project and her mother”, according to Variety.
The late singer also shared her concern over her mum sharing the family story, admitting she was worried she “doesn’t understand the intentions” or outcome the film will have.
She then ended the emails trying to find common ground with Sofia, as she spoke of coming from a famous family, as her father is The Godfather filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola.
The outlet reported Sofia said in her response email: “I hope that when you see the final film you will feel differently, and understand I’m taking great care in honoring your mother, while also presenting your father with sensitivity and complexity.”
The film directed by Sofia is derived from Elvis and Me, a memoir penned by Priscilla that was released in 1985.
Priscilla co-wrote the script with Sofia and Sandra Harmon and the film stars Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi.
Express.co.uk has contacted reps for Sofia Coppola, Priscilla Presley, and Lisa Marie’s estate.
