You almost definitely have seen some promo of the Elvis biopic, a new Baz Luhrmann film set to come out on June 24, and with it, one Austin Butler rising back to the top of our minds and social media feeds.
During recent conversations with fellow Luhrmann-loving friends, I’ve been surprised to learn that Austin Butler isn’t a household name. Personally, I’ve been crushing on Butler ever since seeing him as the heartthrob Sebastian in The Carrie Diaries. But we’ll get to that.
It turns out that despite being in a few high profile TV shows and films, as well as one extremely high profile relationship (which we’ll get to, too), Butler has still managed to skim under the surface of fame (another thing we love about him), just enough for people to not be able to put a face to the name.
Well, sorry Austin Butler, but that’s about to change.
I thought I’d take it upon myself to introduce (or reintroduce) Austin Butler to POPSUGAR Australia readers, so that you all can get across what a handsome angel he is before he undoubtedly dazzles us all in Elvis.
This is a complete timeline of Austin’s career in Hollywood so far, including his relationships and some fun facts about his time in Australia. I’ve divvied this article up into time chunks and notable events in Butler’s life.
Early 2000s
Butler landed his first regular role in 2005, as a background actor on Nickelodeon’s Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide.
Then, after securing a guest starring role on the Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana, fronted by Miley Cyrus, he continued to thrive in the world of Nickelodeon and Disney teen dramas for the next few years.
Between 2007-2010, Butler appeared in shows like iCarly, Zoey 101, Wizards of Waverley Place, Life Unexpected, CSI: Miami and The Defenders. He also starred in a few films, such as The Bling Ring, alongside Emma Watson and Aliens in the Attic, alongside Ashley Tisdale, who later invited him to audition to be her co-star in Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure, a role that he ended up getting.
Tisdale and Butler became close friends, and still are to this day!
Vanessa Hudgens Relationship
According to the Daily Mail, Hudgens and Butler met on the set of High School Musical, back when Hudgens was dating everyone’s boyfriend at the time, Zac Efron. After Zanessa split, Hudgens and Butler were caught kissing over some milkshakes at restaurant Bob’s Big Boy in 2011, which began their public relationship.
Seeing as Butler had just starred opposite Vanessa Hudgens’ best friend Ashley Tisdale in Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure, it’s easy to put the pieces together. Hudgens and Butler dated from 2011-2020, and tbh, I was so jealous when I found out they were an item. Oh, what I would give to live a day in the life of Vanessa Hudgens.
The two were always super adorable on red carpets, known for their cute PDA moments and always singing praises about one another, so much so, that our hearts are still a little bit broken from the news that they were taking a break in 2020.
Although Butler is notorious for his bare Instagram and general lack of social media presence, Hudgens is the opposite, which meant that their relationship was pretty public. They were the king and queen of Coachella, always the most gorgeous couple on the red carpet and seemingly, both totally goo-goo for each other.
The Carrie Diaries
For any Sex and the City fans who haven’t seen The Carrie Diaries, clear your schedule and watch immediately. You’re welcome.
The Carrie Diaries is The CW’s SATC prequel series, which follows the life of Carrie Bradshaw before she moved to and fell in love with New York City. One of the main characters is Sebastian (played by Butler), Carrie’s first love.
This is the first time I truly fell in love with Austin Butler. Mostly because of that kissing scene in the pool. I’ll put it below so you can all appreciate with me.
Unfortunately, the series only lasted two seasons and was cancelled in 2014. A crime, I reckon.
2014-2019
From 2014-2019, Butler went between working on stage and starring in films. His first play, in 2014, was called Death of the Author, a Bart DeLorenzo play that showed in LA throughout May and June of that year. He made his Broadway debut in 2018, playing Don Parritt, the “lost boy” in The Iceman Cometh, for which he got glowing reviews in The New Yorker.
Butler also starred in films such as The Intruders, Yoga Hosers and a TV show called The Shannara Chronicles.
That Month in 2019
In July 2019, Butler appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and in that same month, was cast as Elvis Presley in Elvis, a biopic directed by creative genius (and also an Australian!) Baz Luhrmann.
Needless to say, it was a big month for Butler. Although he’d had an extremely successful career as a teenager and young adult, his work on TV shows and movies was never really bolstered into the major pop culture scene.
Since Then
Butler and Hudgens broke up in 2020, shortly after Butler was announced as Elvis in the upcoming Luhrmann film. The film was shot in Australia, mostly in Queensland.
A few months later, he literally — I’m dead serious — rocked up at the bar I was working at in Melbourne on a date. I’ve never been so starstruck. I still regret to this day that I didn’t slip him my number.
He is currently dating model and actress Kaia Gerber, who he was first photographed with in March 2022.
Elvis, which is set to come out on June 24, chronicles the life and career of Elvis Presley — the King of Rock ‘N Roll — from childhood to becoming a rock and roll and movie star, detailing his complex relationship with his manager Colonel Tom Parker (played by Tom Hanks). I can’t wait to watch it.
