Austin Butler is taking on the role of a lifetime as the “King of Rock and Roll.” The 30-year-old portrays Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s new biopic about the legendary singer, which is set to hit theatres June 23. On Feb. 17, Warner Bros. released the film’s trailer with Butler completely transformed as a charismatic Presley. From the looks of it, the actor seems to have the rock ‘n roll legend down pat – from his famous dance moves and cool demeanour to his iconic voice.
Though this will surely be Butler’s biggest movie role yet, he’s been in the spotlight for quite some time now. He got his start appearing on Nickelodeon and Disney Channel shows like “Zoey 101” and “Wizards of Waverly Place” before he landed a starring role on Freeform’s “Switched at Birth.” He’s also well known for playing Sebastian Kydd on The CW’s “Sex and the City” prequel series, “The Carrie Diaries.” The actor also starred as infamous Manson cult member Charles “Tex” Watson in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” in 2019.
Butler was chosen out of five big names for the role of Elvis, including singer Harry Styles, “West Side Story” star Ansel Elgort, Aaron Taylor-Johnson from “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” and Miles Teller, known for his roles in “Divergent” and “Fantastic Four.”
In addition to Butler’s Presley, Tom Hanks plays the late icon’s talent manager Colonel Tom Parker, Olivia DeJonge portrays Priscilla Presley, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. stars as B.B. King. “Elvis” will focus on the famous singer’s rise to fame under the thumb of his controlling manager, as well as his captivating music that gained popularity amid America’s ever-changing cultural landscape.
I, for one, can’t wait until the film is finally here because it looks like it just might do Presley’s legacy justice – especially with the support of the singer’s ex-wife, who recently attended the Met Gala with Butler. If the cinematic movie trailer isn’t enough proof, get a closer look at the striking resemblance between Butler and Presley ahead.
