Austin Butler Beats Harry Styles, Ansel Elgort, and Miles Teller to Play Elvis

[{"selector":"#anim-9098ec5b-e470-4148-8e43-4a10139404c5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(12.514648210040342%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5216cacb-be73-42e2-8890-7292918a72be","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Austin Butler's performance as Elvis continues to win rave reviews and Oscar buzz for the Baz Luhrmann film

[{"selector":"#anim-7b737b8c-cb26-4c0c-9ab4-944ed58f3617 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(8.730740762052225%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-814040bf-f6f2-43c5-b5dd-7259d2ba71cc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

As the casting director for Wes Ball's "The Maze Runner," Denise Chamian, CSA, first noticed Butler's talent in 2013

[{"selector":"#anim-6e136689-0509-4bda-853f-9d00f25824fb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(34.179687404002955%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1a402d55-db71-4baf-9dd7-4a07d076cf3f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Butler didn't get the role because he played a little too young, but she kept an eye on him

[{"selector":"#anim-75321299-c50e-481c-a28f-7fbdd85a94c1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(21.874999829338595%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8945ce4e-bdf9-4305-95c2-b53e9d964196","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Butler was close to playing Rooster in "Top Gun: Maverick," which Chamian also cast, but lost out to Miles Teller

[{"selector":"#anim-f99f9a2f-110e-4731-b4ce-4d279c79322c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

However, Chamian would turn the tables when he suggested Butler for Luhrmann's film

[{"selector":"#anim-90d3063f-2b13-4622-a660-5ef476f792a8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(21.874999829338595%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3f18ceec-4ee0-48a0-8d74-70aef2d013f6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Luhrmann had his own ideas for the film's star, including Teller and Harry Styles, but Butler proved he had the right stuff - and the rest is history

[{"selector":"#anim-58d327ed-ec40-4cd1-83d0-4b99d3c7864a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(21.874999829338595%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-10887018-4eaf-40c0-b40f-81f3e32160ae","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Austin read for the lead in "The Maze Runner" back in 2013, and he has maintained that aura ever since

[{"selector":"#anim-77046b89-c9e8-4ff6-90c4-46550c130e38 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(12.514648210040342%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-29a7f3cf-e0d2-4bd9-b325-69312385d893","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Besides having these sparkly blue eyes, he's an excellent actor as well

[{"selector":"#anim-a141ad63-891a-4b96-bbcf-1075025356ec [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(33.02612294387817%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-41b4facf-1497-43bd-b8c7-413aadcb4e18","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]