Source link On November 21, Austin Butler, the fan favorite for the upcoming Elvis biopic for which he was recently cast after a lengthy selection process, attributed his idea to former girlfriend and High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens. Butler revealed to Variety that Hudgens was the one who suggested he take on the role of the iconic entertainer, Elvis Presley, in the upcoming Baz Luhrmann-directed movie.
It was not publicly known just how strongly Butler had considered taking on the role prior to Hudgens’ suggestion, and the actor has now finally credited his ex-girlfriend for nudging him in the right direction. “This opportunity came up and I reached out to my partner at the time, who I was in a relationship with,” he said. “She said this could be a really interesting, good sound that you should go for and explore it — so yeah, I have to thank her for that.”
The two were in a relationship for more than two years from 2011 to 2013 before ending things amicably, making it clear that the friendship between the two exes remains strong. When asked about how it felt to consider a role as larger than life as that of The King, Butler revealed that he was extremely honored and humbled to be considered as a potential Elvis double.
“It’s been a surreal, amazing journey and something I’m extremely humbled by,” he said. “I’m continuing to do the work and make sure I’m as prepared as I possibly can be, going into something of this caliber.”
Austin Butler’s commitment to meeting the challenge of the role and Davis Hudgens’ suggestion that he considers taking the part demonstrate the true magnitude of their friendship and illustrate their appreciation for each other’s talents. The movie is slated for a 2021 release and promises to be a visual and musical feast for Elvis fans, as it is set to include archival footage of The King as well as some of his greatest hits.
