AGENT ELVIS EPS MIKE ARNOLD AND JOHN EDDIE; INTERVIEW
The hilarious Agent Elvis, currently streaming on Netflix, features Elvis Presley trading in his jumpsuit for a jet pack when he is covertly inducted into a secret government spy program to battle the dark forces that threaten the country he loves – all while holding down his day job as the King Of Rock And Roll. Agent Elvis stars Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar) as Elvis, Kaitlin Olson (Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Johnny Knoxville (Jackass), Niecy Nash (Claws), Tom Kenny (SpongeBob Square Pants), and Don Cheadle (White Noise). Recently, co-creator/ executive producer John Eddie and head writer/ executive producer Mike Arnold sat down to chat about landing the A-list voice talent, favorite gags in the show, and favorite moments during the production.
"MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD!" warning…
Agent Elvis. Matthew McConaughey as Elvis in Agent Elvis. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2023
"Agent Elvis" has Matthew McConaughey starring as Elvis, Baz Luhrmann voices The Director, famed costume designer Jon Varatos has designed Elvis' wardrobe, and a murderer's row of voice talent is involved with this project. What would you say is the biggest win when you started this project?
Mike Arnold: We still pinch ourselves over the cast that we got together. Never has there been a cast like this for an animated television show. It all started with being lucky enough to get Matthew. We wanted somebody who could kind of bring the coolness that Elvis was all about to life. And Matthew has this wonderful, effortless swagger that he brought to the voice of Elvis and really made it his own. From there, at every turn, it was really swinging for the fences. We did not think we'd get Don Cheadle after Matthew. We got to give it a shot, and we did. And Caitlyn and Niecy and Johnny Knoxville and on down the line. We just could not be more fortunate. They're such great actors and actresses. They understood the comedy. They're very funny in their own way, and they understood the timing. They brought everything to life in a way that we really couldn't have anticipated and elevated the whole project together. I would say the cast was really the biggest thing we had moving forward once it all came together.
John Eddie: I think that undeniable combination of Matthew McConaughey's cool with the cool of Elvis Presley and the participation of Priscilla, knowing that we had her support and the support of the world of Elvis Presley doing this show. I think once Matthew came on board, that got all the other A-list talent going like, wow, this is not just some silly project. This is a cool project.
Agent Elvis. Matthew McConaughey as Elvis in Agent Elvis. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2023
"Agent Elvis" has Matthew McConaughey starring as Elvis, Baz Luhrmann voices The Director, famed costume designer Jon Varatos has designed Elvis' wardrobe, and a murderer's row of voice talent is involved with this project. What would you say is the biggest win when you started this project?
Mike Arnold: We still pinch ourselves over the cast that we got together. Never has there been a cast like this for an animated television show. It all started with being lucky enough to get Matthew. We wanted somebody who could kind of bring the coolness that Elvis was all about to life. And Matthew has this wonderful, effortless swagger that he brought to the voice of Elvis and really made it his own. From there, at every turn, it was really swinging for the fences. We did not think we'd get Don Cheadle after Matthew. We got to give it a shot, and we did. And Caitlyn and Niecy and Johnny Knoxville and on down the line. We just could not be more fortunate. They're such great actors and actresses. They understood the comedy. They're very funny in their own way, and they understood the timing. They brought everything to life in a way that we really couldn't have anticipated and elevated the whole project together. I would say the cast was really the biggest thing we had moving forward once it all came together.
John Eddie: I think that undeniable combination of Matthew McConaughey's cool with the cool of Elvis Presley and the participation of Priscilla, knowing that we had her support and the support of the world of Elvis Presley doing this show. I think once Matthew came on board, that got all the other A-list talent going like, wow, this is not just some silly project. This is a cool project.