Austin Butler on Elvis and Why it Took Months After Filming to Find Himself Again

With writer-director Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis opening in theaters this weekend around the world, I recently got to speak with Austin Butler about playing the “King of Rock and Roll" in the biopic. During the interview, Butler talked about the pressure of taking on such an important role, how it took him months after filming to find himself again, why he didn’t see his family or friends for two years while working on the film, being scared to have Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley see the film, and more. As you can see in the trailers, Elvis is about the complicated relationship between Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks) and Elvis Presley. The film tells Elvis’ story from Parker’s point of view, and it spans over two decades and includes Presley’s rise to fame against the backdrop of the evolving cultural landscape and loss of innocence in America. Butler is superb in the role and actually sings Presley’s early songs in the film. His performance alone is reason to see the film. Elvis also stars Helen