New Elvis Presley Biopic Targeted For 2012 Release

Details remain sparse so far, but Billboard reports that an Elvis Presley biopic will arrive next year, just in time for the 35th anniversary of the American rock and roll icon's 1977 death.

Documentary filmmaker John Scheinfeld will direct and re-write the script for "Fame & Fortune," adapted from former Presley bodyguyard and confidant Sonny West's 2007 book "Elvis: Still Taking Care Of Business."

The original script was written by Cindy Friedlander, Michael Schlau and West himself.

"At the heart, this is the story of an intimate friendship," Scheinfeld said.

"When the story starts, Elvis is on top of the world and Sonny is a poor kid from Memphis. It's a little brother-big brother relationship. The more time they spend together -- and the more Elvis sees he can trust Sonny - the more they become equals until there is a transition where Sonny becomes the big brother."

Scheinfeld did tell Billboard that the film depicts the first 1958 meeting between Presley and West, and that West came into The King's employ in 1960. Presley fired West and his cousin Red back in 1976.

There are many hurdles to clear yet. Elvis Presley Enterprises hasn't yet negotiated with Scheinfeld over clearing Presley's music for use in the film, an obvious "must."

Scheinfeld told Billboard that a crucial element will be clearing Presley's live "If I Can Dream" performance from his 1968 comeback special for an unspecified important moment in the script.

It's not a new game for Scheinfeld: he also co-directed, produced and wrote the documentary "The U.S. vs. John Lennon" with David Leaf. He also directed and wrote "Who is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him)?"

"The underlying sentiment is that he is one of the most important figures in music in the 20h century and it's important to take him out of the tabloid world and replace the caricature with a fully realized human being," Scheinfeld said.

A fun fact: though an Elvis Presley biopic has never made it to the big screen, The King has been portrayed in several TV movies by the likes of Kurt Russell, Rob Youngblood, Dale Midkiff and Johnathan Rhys Myers through the years. There's no word yet on who will play the King in this film.

Bets Elvis makes the red-carpet premiere?