Austin Butler: Who is Elvis’ face and body actor, soon in Dune

“I broke up obsess», Said the actor. “I started read and watch everything I could on the life of Elvis and his relationships. I just listened obsessively to his music. But most of all I looked for a common point with him, as hundreds of thousands of singers have imitated or copied it. the I wanted my way. Until I found it ». In the film, in fact, also and above all the Elvis fragility, his doubts, his fearshis despairat times.

A (sad) point in common with Elvis

And since the actor looked for commonalities with the artist, he also found one that was rather sad. “Her mother died when she was 23, and mine also died when I was 23Said Butler. “When I found out, it was one of those things that make you shiver. I just thought “Okay, I can relate to this” ».

He imagined “that he too had woken up in the night after nightmares similar to those I did. And I tried to sing hers Unchained Melody thinking of my mother, who was my first big supporter.

Austin Butler and the “gentle panic”

The director was amazed by theself-control of the actor in front of a so important proof «I have worked with actors and performers of all kinds. And I accept that they have moments of panicthat’s normal, ”explained Luhrmann.

“But Austin doesn’t freak out. It has the gentler panic of any person I’ve ever met ”. Let’s point out one thing right away, though: at the time of filming ElvisButler was by no means a rookie, in fact, he already had a long career behind him.

He had already made a number of appearances on numerous noteworthy television series, including H.annah Montana, Zoey 101, The Wizards of Waverly, Switched at Birth, The Carrie DiariesAnd The Shannara Chronicles, of course nothing that can compare to such an iconic role it’s important.

For Austin Butler, the entry into the world of acting happened totally by chance. His half-brother was spotted at the Orange County Fair, so Austin accompanied him to the audition. Result: got a small part as an extra.

Below, with the older sister.

“At the time, I didn’t have much of a passion for anything that involved other people“, has explained. «I didn’t play sports. I didn’t do things in company ».
Slowly, however, he began to like acting, so much so that he asked his parents to get him an agent. Eventually, he even dropped out of school to be a full-time actor. “I’ve never been to a real prom,” she said. “But I did it on a TV show. I took the test for leave high school at 15 and a half yearsbut I continued to write themes because I was always afraid that I would not be able to communicate ».

As soon as he found out he was cast for the role, Austin Butler did started working with some coaches right away to fine-tune the voice and movements. “But I also have watched every single video and documentary about Presley. It was important to have hers dialect inflection. But I also had to rend the changes in your voice over the years: Elvis has changed a lot during his career ».

The actor on the set with Tom Hanks and his “parents”. (Warner Bros.)

Worked with coach Polly Bennett «Who helped me move like him. But also to understand what leads a person to certain gestures and movements. In short I had to understand the human being and his emotions“.

In preparing to play Elvis, Austin Butler he also made unconventional choices. For example, it has studied animals that could vaguely resemble Presley. “It has cat-like features, kind of like when a lion comes out of the prairie,” Butler explained. “AND it has something of the alligator, when it emerges from the water ». Not only that: he also went to Graceland to meet Elvis’ wife, Priscilla Presley. “He looked like an angel,” recalled the actor. “After that I walked down the hall with Baz with tears in my eyes“.

A physically exhausting test

Absorbed by that role, completely immersed in another skinAustin wrapped filming in March 2021 totally tried.

One day, as soon as I finished shooting the film, “I woke up at four in the morning with a excruciating pain, and they rushed me to the hospital, ”explained the actor, who was diagnosed with a virus that simulates the pain of appendicitis. “My body began to fail the day after I finished Elvis, ”so much so that he was forced to lie in bed, motionless, for over a week.

Austin and and Priscilla Presley in Cannes. (Getty Images)

The words of Baz Luhrmann

A film about an icon of American music «why it was very tied to my past as a storyteller», Explained the director. “The great storytellers, like Shakespeare, they never did biographies. What they do is take the life and history of an iconic figure and use it as a canvas on which to paint a bigger idea“.

He says he is an Elvis fan but specifies that “that’s not why I agreed to make this film. I believe there is no better story for today narrating the United States in the 50s, 60s and 70s. The extraordinary thing about her story is that for three decades, and a good forty-two years, she has been the center of global attention. “

Among the noteworthy choices of the director that of make Butler sing with his voice. “When I started the process of identifying with the character, I did my best to make my voice as similar as possible to his,” explained the actor.

Austin Butler, Baz Luhrmann and Tom Hanks. (Getty Images)

“I did voice coaching for a year before filming began. I looked at everything that exists and concerns it, including films and concerts. I feel such a responsibility towards Elvis and Priscilla and Lisa Marie, and all the people around the world who they love it so much!“.