
Orion: The Man Who Would Be King (2015)
86 min
August 16, 1977. All of America was stunned by the news of Elvis Presley's untimely passing. Some went so far as to believe that it couldn't be true. Somehow he had faked his death. For the executives at Sun Records that fantasy became an opportunity in the form of Orion, a mysterious masked performer with the voice of The King. First appearing in 1979, Orion recorded 11 albums and performed live to packed houses and rapturous fans around the nation. But who was the man behind the mask? In this stranger-than-fiction true story, Jeanie Finlay exposes the incredible life of an unknown singer plucked from obscurity and thrust into the spotlight with the complicity of a manipulative music industry and a public fan base unwilling to let The King go. Resonant in its themes of identity, fate, and the double-edged nature of fame, Orion is a stylish mystery story that finally gives a name and a face to a gifted artist who had been unjustly deprived of both.
- Release date
- April 17, 2015
- Country of origin
- United Kingdom, United States
Trailer
Cast
- Jerry Adams as Nashville Music Manager
- Sharon Attaway Nettleton as Orion Fan
- Gail Brewer-Giorgio as Author Book of Orion
- Boomer Castleman as Member Orion's Band
- Boomer Castleman as Guitarist
- Nancy Crowson as Girlfriend of Jimmy
- Furniss Ellis as Jimmy's Father
- Carol Halupke as Songwriter
- Walt Halupke as Orion Merchandiser
- Jerry Hatfield as Friend of Jimmy
Crew
- Furniss Ellis · Archive footage
- Jimmy Ellis · Archive footage
- Jeanie Finlay · Director
- Jeanie Finlay · Writer
- Jeanie Finlay · Producer
- Dewi Gregory · Producer
- Mark Bushnell · Cinematographer
- Stewart Copeland · Cinematographer
- Steven Sheil · Cinematographer
- Lucas Roche · Editor