Austin Butler reveals concerned offer Tom Hanks gave the young star to help him out after the Elvis movie
Austin Butler reveals concerned offer Tom Hanks gave the young star to help him out after the Elvis movie
Austin Butler has revealed how he may have been saved from an ’emotional whiplash’ by his Elvis co-star Tom Hanks.
The concerned Hollywood legend, 67, offered the actor 36 years his junior a new role in an attempt to save him from a possible emotional spiral.
Butler earned an Oscar nomination for his performance as Elvis Presley in the 2022 biopic directed by Baz Luhrmann, for which he embodied the Hound Dog singer for two years, changing his voice and performing regularly as a musician.
The 31-year-old got so engrossed in the project that Hanks worried about his well-being when the process finally came to a close.
told Butler The Sunday times that Hanks said over dinner one night, “You’ve immersed yourself so deeply in Elvis that it would be wise for your sanity to move right on to something else.” If you just jump off the train, you can get emotional whiplash.’
Career Advice: Austin Butler has revealed the career offer Tom Hanks made him after the pair starred in Elvis together
Mentor: Hanks offered Butler a spot on his upcoming Masters Of The Air series, due out in September
So Hanks offered him the chance to land another role right away in “this thing I’m producing” – his upcoming TV series Masters Of The Air, co-produced with Steven Spielberg.
Ironically, it’s Hanks’ character Colonel Tom Parker’s bad advice to Elvis in the couple’s 2022 film that sends the singer off the rails.
However, Butler agreed and will appear alongside Sawyer Spielberg, Callum Turner and Barry Keoghan in the Apple TV+ series when it releases on September 20.
Masters Of The Air follows the journey of the United States Air Force’s 100th Bombardment Group during World War II, based on Donald L. Miller’s 2007 book of the same name.
Hanks and Spielberg have previously collaborated on a number of WWII projects, including Band Of Brothers and The Pacific, so this next work has a lot to live up to.
Participating in the nine-part series isn’t the only way Butler has been busy.
The rising Hollywood star is also filming Dune: Part Two, due out in November, and The Bikeriders – which charts the rise of a fictional Midwestern biker gang in the 1960s – due out in December.
Off-screen, Butler was also recently unveiled as a brand ambassador for Yves Saint Laurent.
His busy year is a sign that he is emerging as one of the top actors of his generation.
After starting on the Disney Channel, Butler also starred in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood with Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie.
Busy: Butler has become a brand ambassador for Yves Saint Laurent, as well as participating in filming for a number of other movies and shows since playing Elvis Presley