Austin Butler couldn’t shake Elvis voice while filming

Elvis Presley was known to shake, rattle and roll, but when it came time to playing the legend, actor Austin Butler had a hard time shaking one thing: Presley’s trademark voice.

While Austin Butler didn’t go full method–it’s not like he gorged on peanut butter, banana and bacon sandwiches while holed up in his trailer–he did find himself trying to perfect Elvis Presley’s vocals. He also neglected to connect with those outside of the movie. “During Elvis I didn’t see my family for about three years,” he said in a recent interview. “I was prepping with Baz [Luhrmann], and then I went to Australia. I had months where I wouldn’t talk to anybody. And when I did, the only thing I was ever thinking about was Elvis. I was speaking in his voice the whole time.”

The commitment seems to have paid off, however, as Austin Butler recently earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Action in a Motion Picture – Drama for playing Elvis. His performance as The King will most likely receive a Screen Actors Guild nomination, which will help usher him to an anticipated Academy Award nod. Both organizations will announce their nominations in January. He will face serious competition from Brendan Fraser, but we would still love him to win one of the awards, if not just to hear him end a speech with, “Thank you. Thank you very much.”

For fans of Austin Butler as Elvis, director Baz Luhrmann is hoping to release the actor’s full performances in a “concert version” of the movie. “Austin did his concerts full out. He did all the numbers. Austin just did it and it was an out of body experience to watch him do those full concerts, so one day I will cut those full concerts together.”

Overall, Elvis earned three Golden Globe nominations. In addition to Butler’s nod, director Baz Luhrmann was nominated, along with the movie itself for Best Motion Picture – Drama.

What did you think of Austin Butler’s performance in Elvis? Is he deserving of his likely Best Actor nomination?

The 80th Golden Globes will take place on January 10th, 2023.