Austin Butler is set to portray a young Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming biopic about the King of Rock-n-Roll.
“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 says in a statement to Deadline.
“I had heard about Austin Butler from his standout 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.”
Meanwhile, Butler’s longtime girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens congratulated her “honey” on Instagram. “I AMMMM OVERRRR THE F**KING MOOOOOOOOONNNNN," she wrote on Monday.
The film will shoot early next year in Queensland, Australia.