Baz Luhrmann has officially found his King of the cast for his Elvis Presley biopic. Austin Butler has landed the role after weeks of auditioning and his girlfriend Vannessa Hudgens couldn’t be happier (or sweeter).
Vanessa Hudgens’s Reaction: Over The F-king Moon
The High School Musical star took to Instagram on Monday to express her joy. “I AMMMM OVERRRR THE F–KING MOOOOOOOOONNNNN,” the 30-year-old actress wrote as a caption to screenshot reporting the news of Butler’s new role. “I CANT WAIT 
SO PROUD OF MY HONEYYYYY!!!” she continued.
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The Tough Competition That Butler Cleared
Several talented actors were competing for the role just a while ago. Harry Styles, Ansel Elgort and Miles Teller all made it to the narrowed down few among many others under consideration.
The actor playing Elvis needs to be able to sing, dance, and act, so it makes sense that Luhrmann took his time with the decision.
The Casting: How And When
The official announcement of Austin Butler getting the role came via Warner Bros. Pictures on Monday, the 15th of July. Luhrmann said in a statement that he wanted the casting for this movie to be ” absolutely right” and therefore he and his team “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.” The world will soon get to see on-screen how Butler fits that description, in a possible 2020 release date.
Baz Luhrmann also said that he was honored to have encountered a “vast array of talent” while picking his cast. He even mentioned how he found Austin Butler. His role opposite Denzel Washington on The Iceman Cometh on Broadway reportedly caught the director’s attention. And after multiple auditions, extensive screen testing and music and performance workshops, he knew that Butler could successfully “embody the spirit of one of the world’s most iconic musical figures.”
Austin Butler and Vannesa Hudgens have been dating since 2011.