Agent Elvis Features A Hilarious Cameo For All You Baz Luhrmann Fans Out There
This article contains mild spoilers for "Agent Elvis."
One of the most exciting Netflix animated projects of 2023 just hit the platform. "Agent Elvis" is an animated adult action comedy that dares to ask the question: What if the King of Rock 'n' Roll was also an international super spy with a cocaine-using chimpanzee for a sidekick?
Besides the very "Archer"-inspired tone of the show's absurdist comedy and the blood-soaked action, the biggest draw of "Agent Elvis" is its mix of truth and fiction. The series takes a "Forrest Gump" approach to history, placing Elvis in historical events as he interferes with or changes what we think happened, while still following the timeline of events in Elvis' real life. This results in a sort of animated version of the fantastic "Legends of Tomorrow," as we see Elvis give George Lucas words of encouragement at the Altamont Free Concert, or kick Charles Manson in the face right before recording his 1968 comeback special.
With fantastic animation and a unique art style that captures the look of the King, "Agent Elvis" makes for a hilarious, and rather violent, alternate history cartoon. It also boasts an impressive voice cast led by Matthew McConaughey as Elvis himself, along with a whole lot of guest stars — like Fred Armisen as Charles Manson.
In a highlight of the season, we see Elvis obsessed with catching the live broadcast of the moon landing while also making his very last film, "Change of Habit." While on the set of that film, we get one of the best cameos in the show ... one made for all the Baz Luhrmann fans.
That's all right mama
"Change of Habit" was significant for several reasons. It was Elvis' last movie, yes, but it was also a Mary Tyler Moore vehicle, and it was made differently than other Elvis movies. The film, about three nuns working at a clinic run by a young doctor who falls for one of the nuns, has fewer musical numbers and more drama than some of the other "make 'em quick, make 'em cheap" films Elvis starred in. Oh, and it was also a film where Elvis changed his iconic hairdo.
The film was directed by William A. Graham, a prolific TV director who worked on shows like "Batman," "The Fugitive," and "The X-Files." In "Agent Elvis," however, Graham is voiced by none other than the director who gave us 2022's Oscar-nominated "Elvis" biopic: Baz Luhrmann. The filmmaker brings just the right amount of live-wire energy to the episode, playing a man stressed out of his mind due to working with one of the most famous people in the world (not to mention, having his entire crew glued to the TV watching the moon landing).
Of course, this is a show about Elvis the spy, not Elvis the actor, so the episode goes from good to great once it reveals why this movie was so different. Turns out, Elvis wasn't even on set for half the time, as he was busy chasing down a cocaine dealer and taking down a whole business. The man who was actually on set? Elvis's friend and sidekick, Bobby Ray (Johnny Knoxville, who already played a member of the Memphis Mafia in "Elvis & Nixon").
This is the kind of fantastic and bizarre cameo that makes the show worth watching, and a great nod to Luhrmann's film.
"Agent Elvis" is streaming on Netflix.