February 15, 2025
In a rare and deeply vulnerable moment, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Elvis Presley, admits that the Hollywood image created of him throughout his career was far from the reality of who he truly was. This revelation is featured in Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley, a Netflix documentary released on November 13, 2024.
In the film, Presley reflects on his early years in Hollywood, where he was often portrayed as a clean-cut, wholesome entertainer. However, the documentary reveals how this carefully crafted image conflicted with the pressures and struggles Presley faced behind the scenes. “What they showed the world was not who I am,” Elvis says, opening up about the intense personal and professional battles he dealt with throughout his life.
The documentary provides new footage and interviews, including candid reflections from Priscilla Presley and others close to the legend. Priscilla recalls how Elvis felt the weight of being misunderstood, especially during his transition from a Hollywood heartthrob to a more serious artist, culminating in his iconic 1968 comeback special.
“It was a trip for me, too, to finally see Elvis perform live,” Priscilla says in the documentary, revealing that she had never attended one of his concerts before that moment. “I was always watching him on screen, but it wasn’t until he came back to live performances that I truly understood the depth of his talent.”
The documentary has been praised for offering a more nuanced view of Elvis Presley, showing him not just as a superstar but as a man struggling with the pressures of fame and the expectations placed on him by Hollywood. Critics have commended the film for allowing Presley’s voice to be heard in a way that humanizes the larger-than-life icon, shedding light on the vulnerability behind the Elvis we thought we knew.
Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley is now available for streaming on Netflix, offering fans an intimate and personal look at the complex man behind the legend.
