Austin Butler Unveils Life-Changing Advice From Tom Hanks During Intense Elvis Transformation
Austin Butler opens up about the invaluable advice he received from Tom Hanks after delving deep into his role as Elvis, leaving him with emotional whiplash Discover how his upcoming roles diverge drastically from his portrayal of the iconic musician
Summary
Austin Butler reveals that Tom Hanks advised him to avoid emotional whiplash after playing Elvis.
Hanks advised Butler to immediately start a new project to avoid getting too engrossed in his previous role. Observations suggest that Butler heeded Hanks' counsel, as his future roles are purportedly far removed from his portrayal of Elvis.
Elvis star Austin Butler has shared the valuable advice he received from Tom Hanks regarding the future of his career. Butler, who portrayed Elvis Presley in the 2022 film, wholeheartedly immersed himself in the role and was recognized with a Golden Globe award and an Oscar nomination. Additionally, Tom Hanks took on the role of Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis' manager, whose controlling nature created conflicts in their successful relationship.
In an interview with The Times prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike, Austin Butler discussed his experience as a central figure in the Elvis cast. He divulged that Tom Hanks provided guidance on avoiding the emotional toll of investing deeply in a role like Elvis. Hanks advised him to immediately pursue another project and even extended an offer for a role in his upcoming series, Masters of the Air, a follow-up to Band of Brothers. Read Austin Butler's full statement below:
[Hanks] advised, ‘For the sake of your well-being, it would be prudent to fully engage in a different endeavor after being so intensely focused on Elvis. If you abruptly abandon your current pursuit, you may experience emotional turbulence.
Austin Butler's Upcoming Roles Are Very Different From Elvis
It appears that Butler has indeed heeded Tom Hanks' advice. The actor is set to portray four diverse characters in his upcoming projects, each exhibiting a different tone and personality, which are a far cry from his portrayal of Elvis Presley. One of these characters is Major Gale Cleven, featured in Masters of the Air, where Butler will delve into the role of a U.S. Air Force personnel associated with the 100th Bombardment Group during World War II.
His upcoming roles primarily involve complex or villainous characters. Alongside his portrayal of a member of a corrupted Midwestern motorcycle club in The Bikeriders set in the 1960s, Butler will also be taking on the role of a ruthless crime boss in the upcoming film adaptation City on Fire, based on Don Winslow's novel. However, these characters will likely be overshadowed by his performance in Dune: Part Two.
In the sci-fi sequel, Butler will be seen as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, the successor to House Harkonnen. Feyd-Rautha is a heartless and malevolent figure, serving as an adversary to Timothée Chalamet's Paul Atreides. With such diverse roles, it appears that Butler has successfully moved on from his portrayal of Elvis.
Source: The Times
