Austin Butler

Butler recounted that a 'friend' had told him years earlier that he should play Elvis. Fans quickly identified Vanessa Hudgens, with whom he had been in a relationship for nearly nine years, and accused him of erasing her role in his career.

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Personally implicated

The announcement of Austin Butler as Patrick Bateman in Luca Guadagnino's new adaptation of American Psycho prompted criticism of the need for another version following the cult 2000 film and of Hollywood's tendency to recycle the same sought-after young actors.

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After filming and during awards season, Butler continued speaking with a deeper voice and an accent reminiscent of Elvis Presley. Social media users widely mocked him or accused him of deliberately maintaining the voice for his Oscar campaign.

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Personally implicated

Butler explained that he immersed himself in preparing for Elvis over several years, to the extent of not seeing his family for approximately three years and devoting almost his entire life to the character. His methods fuelled debate about the limits of method acting and personal sacrifice for a role.

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Butler recounted being hospitalised the day after filming Elvis ended, saying that his body had 'started to shut down'. Doctors reportedly diagnosed a virus whose symptoms resembled appendicitis.

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Personally implicated

The Elvis biopic revived debates about how Elvis Presley benefited from a segregated industry while drawing heavily on Black musicians, as well as historical liberties taken by Baz Luhrmann. Butler, portraying Presley, found himself at the centre of media attention surrounding this debate.

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Documented