Trivia

In an interview, director John Carpenter said that they had to glue Kurt Russell's ears back because they stuck too far out.

Reportedly, Priscilla Presley was paid $50,000 to check the script for accuracy.

Elvis Presley's father, Vernon Presley, was played by Kurt Russell's father, Bing Russell.

Kurt Russell visited Vernon Presley at Graceland during filming. Vernon, a supporter of the movie, suggested Kurt wear one of Elvis Presley's real jumpsuits. He picked the Adonis, which Elvis made and wore in 1972. On the DVD cover and in the 1970s Elvis scenes, Kurt is wearing the actual jumpsuit, not a copy.

According to John Carpenter in his DVD commentary on Big Trouble in Little China (1986) with Kurt Russell, Carpenter got the job directing this film because the producers found out he did the music for Halloween (1978), and figured he could handle a biopic of Elvis Presley.

John Carpenter: A long-haired man with a mustache smoking and standing behind someone at the blackjack table near the beginning of the film, when Elvis Presley's entourage is walking through the casino.