Baz Luhrmann’s big money biopic Elvis may have left the Oscars empty-handed last weekend (it did pick up a couple of Razzies, but the director would probably prefer not to shout about that), but Netflix’s new animated series about the singer, Agent Elvis, is determinedly less highbrow.
The show is an irreverent spy romp that finds the titular King of Rock’n’Roll locking horns with a selection of criminals, political revolutionaries and counter-culture ne'er-do-wells in 1960s America — perhaps in part a tribute to Elvis Presley’s own admission of his boyhood dreams of being the hero of one of his favourite comic books.
The show is co-created by the singer's wife Priscilla Presley, who also voices herself. Although it would be no insult to describe Agent Elvis as being at the low-brow end of the TV spectrum, that doesn’t mean it’s held back on the star power, with Priscilla only one of a number of big names on the voiceover list.
Matthew McConaughey voices Elvis, in what must surely be a dream role for any actor of southern American extraction, such as Texas native actor.
Kaitlin Olson, the Emmy-nominated star of Hacks, is CeCe Ryder, the musician's handler from intelligence agency The Central Bureau. Ryder is a black leather catsuit-wearing femme fatale reminiscent of Avenger Black Widow.
MCU links don't end there, with Don Cheadle, aka War Machine, voicing TCB chief The Commander. Tom Kenny, who voices Spongebob Squarepants, plays Elvis's psychotic, womanising pet monkey Scatter (yes, Scatter was a real thing), Jackass's Johnny Knoxville is redneck mechanic Bobby Ray, while Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks and Star Trek’s Simon Pegg are among the cameos. This may be a goofball cartoon, but no expense has been spared on casting.
The episodes follow a fairly set formula, with each one finding Agent Elvis taking on a variety of villains against a backdrop of historical events from the 1960s, or significant moments in the singer’s life, with a smattering of well-known Elvis songs on the soundtrack for good measure.
This is perhaps one area where the show suffers from Netflix’s binge-watching model. Taken individually, the episodes are great fun, but the formulaic nature can become a little repetitive when watching several episodes at once. Of course, this is easily solved by simply spacing out your viewing, but when the sofa’s comfy and you’ve nowhere to go, it can be a challenge, and could lead viewers to switch off a few episodes in and forget to come back.
Aesthetically, the show takes on a distinctly retro approach — the visual elements wouldn’t look out of place in 1960s and 1970s classic cartoons of Hannah-Barbera such as Scooby Doo and Hong Kong Phooey — though the adult themes and decidedly 21st century language ensure it's not wholesome family viewing.
Hardcore devotees of Elvis could also be shocked by the depiction of their idol as a foul-mouthed, violent vigilante killer, but Priscilla’s close involvement may quell worries.
All in all, Agent Elvis is an entertaining and unexpected, reimagining of a 20th century star. We’d definitely reiterate the recommendation to spread viewing over a few sessions for best results, but taken in the appropriate doses, you may well find you Can’t Help Falling in Love with Agent Elvis.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
'Outclassed in Kuwait'
Taleb Alrefai,
HBKU Press
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
UAE squad to face Ireland
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri (vice-captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmad, Zawar Farid, CP Rizwaan, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, Kashif Daud, Adithya Shetty, Vriitya Aravind
RESULTS
Women:
55kg brown-black belt: Amal Amjahid (BEL) bt Amanda Monteiro (BRA) via choke
62kg brown-black belt: Bianca Basilio (BRA) bt Ffion Davies (GBR) via referee’s decision (0-0, 2-2 adv)
70kg brown-black belt: Ana Carolina Vieira (BRA) bt Jessica Swanson (USA), 9-0
90kg brown-black belt: Angelica Galvao (USA) bt Marta Szarecka (POL) 8-2
Men:
62kg black belt: Joao Miyao (BRA) bt Wan Ki-chae (KOR), 7-2
69kg black belt: Paulo Miyao (BRA) bt Gianni Grippo (USA), 2-2 (1-0 adv)
77kg black belt: Espen Mathiesen (NOR) bt Jake Mackenzie (CAN)
85kg black belt: Isaque Braz (BRA) bt Faisal Al Ketbi (UAE), 2-0
94kg black belt: Felipe Pena (BRA) bt Adam Wardzinski (POL), 4-0
110kg black belt final: Erberth Santos (BRA) bt Lucio Rodrigues (GBR) via rear naked choke
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
