Austin Butler To Play Elvis Presley In Upcoming Biopic

In the upcoming Elvis Presley biopic, Director Baz Luhrmann, after much debate over five potential actors, has picked “The Carrie Diaries” actor Austin Butler to play the King of Rock and Roll.

In an Instagram post shared on Monday, Luhrmann made the casting announcement when he shared two photos featuring Presley and Butler.

The film that will showcase Presley’s rise to fame and stardom and transformation into one of the world’s most influential and famous musicians will reportedly be filmed in Queensland, Australia early next year.

Butler will act opposite Tom Hanks in the Warner Bros. film. Hanks will play Presley’s controlling manager Colonel Tom Parker.

The Disney Channel star went against Ansel Elgort, Miles Teller, Aaron Tayor-Johnson and Harry Styles but eventually grabbed the role.

Fans have also expressed their support and enthusiasm for Austin landing the role, saying that the actor will kill it and that casting him as Elvis is one of the best casting decisions ever.

“…this is his time to shine,” one Twitter user said.

Another fan said that Butler is going to impress them as Elvis, expressing that they’re still not over his role as Sebastian Kydd on “The Carrie Diaries.”

One person on Twitter said that since Butler is to play the late musician, Vanessa Hudgens could play the role of Priscilla Presley.

"I knew I couldn't make this film if the casting wasn't absolutely right and we searched thoroughly for an actor with the ability to evoke the singular natural movement and vocal qualities of this peerless star, but also the inner vulnerability of the artist," Luhrmann explained in his statement to Deadline.

Luhrmann added that throughout the casting process, he felt it was an honor for him to encounter “such vast array of talent.”

He said that he had heard about Butler from the actor’s stand-out role opposite Denzel Washington in the George C. Wolfe-directed adaptation of “The Iceman Cometh” as Don Parritt on Broadway. Through extensive screen testing and music and performance workshops, Luhrmann knew for sure that he had found someone who could embody the spirit of “one of the world’s most iconic musical figures.”