Elvis Presley’s life and career continue to captivate fans, even 47 years after his death at age 42. Now, a new Netflix documentary, Return of the King: The Fall & Rise of Elvis Presley, gives a rare glimpse behind the scenes of his legendary 1968 comeback special and reveals the personal struggles that shaped him as an artist.
The Comeback Story
The 1968 NBC special marked Elvis’s return to live performance after a seven-year break spent mostly making films. During that time, Presley grew increasingly frustrated with Hollywood’s formulaic musicals, which left him feeling creatively boxed in. He feared his career was being mishandled and was determined to regain his place on stage.
Director Jason Hehir highlights the importance of this turning point: “1968 was the biggest crossroads in Elvis’s life. It made sense to explore his choices and the emotional journey behind them.”
In the documentary, Presley openly discusses his career frustrations: “Hollywood’s image of me was wrong, and I knew it, and I couldn’t do anything about it… I just felt obligated to things I didn’t fully believe in.”
Priscilla Presley adds her view, recalling a scene from the 1967 film Double Trouble, where Elvis sang Old MacDonald Had a Farm. “That to me is a crime,” she says. “It made him a laughingstock—and he knew it.”
