Austin Butler’s Body ‘Started Shutting Down’ After Elvis Filming Wrapped

Elvis Presley is considered as one of the twentieth century’s most significant cultural icons. It goes without saying that adapting the singer’s style is challenging. Austin recently stated that he was hospitalized after playing Elvis.

Austin Butler’s performance as Elvis Presley took a toll on him. The 30-year-old actor revealed to British GQ that after finishing filming the upcoming Elvis film in March 2021, he was hospitalized and bedridden for a week. Butler was diagnosed with a virus that simulates appendicitis, according to the magazine.

“The next day I woke up at 4 in the morning with excruciating pain, and I was rushed to hospital. My body just started shutting down the day after I finished Elvis.”

Baz Luhrmann, the director, said of Butler’s performance, “Look, I’ve worked with every kind of actor and every kind of performer. And I accept that they have freak-outs, that’s okay. But Austin, he doesn’t freak out. He has the most polite panic of anyone I’ve ever met.” Butler also highlighted the emotional reason he was able to connect with Presley on a deeper level.

“His mother passed away when he was 23, and my mum passed away when I was 23. So when I learned that, it was one of those things where I got chills, and I just thought, ‘Okay, I can connect to that.’ I’ve never loved somebody I’ve never met more than Elvis.”

Riley Keough, Presley’s granddaughter, recently praised Butler’s portrayal in the film. During a Variety Women in Motion panel at the Cannes Film Festival, where her directorial debut War Pony was screening, Keough said “it was a very emotional experience” watching Elvis.

“I started crying five minutes in and didn’t stop. There’s a lot of family trauma and generational trauma that started around then for our family. I felt honored they worked so hard to really get his essence, to feel his essence. Austin captured that so beautifully.”

Priscilla Presley, the singer’s ex-wife, also gave the film her approval in an Instagram post, stating her daughter Lisa Marie is pleased with how the drama, which centers on Elvis and his relationship with his manager Colonel Parker (Tom Hanks), has come out.

I’ve seen Elvis the film, I watched the trailer over a dozen times. But the words I heard from my daughter on how much she loved the film and that Riley will love it too when she sees it brought tears. I relived every moment in this film. It took me a few days to overcome the emotions as it did with Lisa. Beautifully done Baz, Tom, Austin and Olivia.

The long-awaited day for fans and music lovers has finally arrived. Elvis will be released in cinemas on June 24. To get the latest updates, keep an eye on Thirsty.

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