Austin Butler dedicated nearly two years to preparing for his titular role in the epic biographical drama, Elvis. Directed by Baz Luhrmann, the film also featured Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley’s manager. Butler received widespread critical acclaim for his role and even earned an Academy Award nomination, while Hanks’ performance garnered a mix of reviews.
Elvis was a critical and commercial success; however, the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actor had gone through emotional turmoil after the film. It was during this time that Tom Hanks, mindful of mental health concerns, offered a piece of advice to the rising star.
Tom Hanks Advised The Young Austin Butler After Elvis
In a recent interview with The Times, Austin Butler opened up about a dinner conversation he had with his co-star, Tom Hanks. The Forrest Gump actor shared his wisdom with the up-and-coming Butler. Hanks advised that the Zoey 101 actor quickly move on from his intense Elvis role and dive into another project to avoid “emotional whiplash.” Butler recounted the discussion:
“[Hanks] said, ‘You have immersed yourself so deeply in Elvis that, for your mental health, it would be wise to go straight into something else. If you just jump off the train, you might have emotional whiplash…”
As a result of this conversation, Tom Hanks invited Butler to join the cast of his upcoming series, Master of the Air. The series is the third installment in the Second World series created by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.
Austin Butler Got A Deserved Role And Executed It With Utmost Dedication
Interestingly, Austin Butler was not the only actor considered for the role. The most prominent names included Ansel Elgort, Miles Teller, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Harry Styles. However, two decisive factors sealed the deal for The Shannara Chronicles actor.
First, his audition tape, which included a beautiful rendition of Unchained Melody, impressed director Luhrmann. Secondly, he got a recommendation from actor Denzel Washington. Washington had earlier worked with the actor on Broadway in The Iceman Cometh in 2018. It was one of the turning points for Butler as an emerging actor in the industry.
The Carrie Diaries actor also won the BAFTA and the Golden Globe for Best Actor for his performance as the King of Rock n Roll. Audiences can now rent the Elvis movie on AppleTV+.
Source: The Times
