In a new interview, the actor recalls he was diagnosed with a virus that hospitalized him the next day after he wrapped production on Baz Luhrmann's music biopic.
- May 26, 2022
AceShowbiz - Austin Butler gave his all for "Elvis" and it took a toll on him physically. The actor, who plays the late legendary singer Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann-directed biopic, was hospitalized one day after he wrapped the movie.
The 30-year-old recalled his health scare in an interview with GQ magazine, which was published on Wednesday, May 25. "The next day [after filming wrapped] I woke up at 4 in the morning with excruciating pain, and I was rushed to the hospital," he told the publication.
Butler said he was diagnosed with a virus that simulates appendicitis and had to spend a week bedridden. "My body just started shutting down the day after I finished 'Elvis'," he added of his health issue.
Butler was indeed so immersed in portraying the King of Rock and Roll. When filming on the movie got suspended because of COVID in March 2020, just as production was getting underway, he refused to return home in Los Angeles. He, instead, decided to hole up and dig even deeper into his character.
The former "The Carrie Diaries" star plastered images of Elvis all over his apartment. "Just images of Elvis everywhere, from every time period," he shared. "I think the film would have been very different if we had started shooting at that point, and I'm grateful I had the time to let myself marinate."
Butler also prepped for "Elvis" by meeting with the late music icon's ex-wife Priscilla Presley. "She looked like an angel," Butler said of the actress. "I walked down the hall with Baz afterwards with tears in my eyes."
The hard work paid off as Butler has received praises from Priscilla, along with her daughter Lisa Marie Presley and granddaughter Riley Keough, for his performance in the film. "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," Priscilla wrote via Instagram earlier this month.
She went on raving, "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 [Hanks], Austin and Olivia [DeJonge]."
"Elvis" will hit theaters across the nation on June 24 after it premiered at Cannes Film Festival on May 25.
