Austin Butler is set to follow in the shoes of Rami Malek and Taron Egerton in playing iconic musicians in films about their lives.
Butler’s, however, will be blue suede.
The Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actor is set to star as Elvis Presley in the upcoming biopic directed by Baz Luhrmann.
The 27-year-old, who has been dating High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens for 8 years, beat out fellow actors Ansel Elgort, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Harry Styles, and Miles Teller for the role.
“I knew I couldn’t make this film if the casting wasn’t absolutely right, and we searched thoroughly for an actor with the ability to evoke the singular natural movement and vocal qualities of this peerless star, but also the inner vulnerability of the artist,” Luhrmann said in a statement.
“Throughout the casting process, it was an honor for me to encounter such a vast array of talent. I had heard about Austin Butler from his stand-out role opposite Denzel Washington in The Iceman Cometh on Broadway, and through a journey of extensive screen testing and music and performance workshops, I knew unequivocally that I had found someone who could embody the spirit of one of the world’s most iconic musical figures.”
The Great Gatsby director has also co-written the screenplay, which will focus on Elvis’s relationship with his manager Col. Tom Parker, who is set to be portrayed by Tom Hanks.
