I'm All Shook Up: Austin Butler Looks Exactly Like Elvis Presley In Biopic

Jordan Claes
Austin Butler as Elvis in 'Elvis'.
Warner Bros. | Warner Bros.

Music by its very nature is impermanent. Genres come and go, and artists rise and fall like the winter wheat — never to be seen or heard from again. But once in a generation, an artist comes along who defies the norm. Who becomes less than a god but more than man.

In our collective pop culture, that artist is Elvis Presley. And after fans caught their first glimpse of actor Austin Butler in the forthcoming Elvis biopic, they're all shook up by the fact that Austin looks exactly like the once-great king of Rock n' Roll.

Royalty in music is nothing new.

Elvis dancing with a woman in movie
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Aretha Franklin has long been hailed as the Queen of Soul. Michael Jackson is still the posthumous Prince of Pop. But when it comes to crowning the King of Rock n' Roll — there is only Elvis Presley.

Elvis was dubbed the "King of Rock n' Roll" due to the fact that he was the first white artist to popularize the emerging genre.

From his incendiary debut in 1956 until his untimely death in 1977, Elvis was a force unto his own. Without him, we wouldn't have The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, as well as a litany of other acts.

For years, rumors have been swirling about a possible Elvis biopic in the works. Now, audiences everywhere are getting their first glimpse of what's to come.

Elvis Presley singing.
Giphy | Elvis Presley

Director Baz Luhrman recently released the first trailer for Elvis. And after seeing Austin Butler on screen in the titular role, moviegoing audiences everywhere are "All Shook Up."

Austin looks like the reincarnation of the King himself.

Austin Butler as Elvis Presley in 'Elvis'.
Warner Bros. | Warner Bros.

On-screen, Austin effortlessly embodies every aspect of Elvis' signature look. From his long jet-black hair to his sultry pouty lips, it's clear to see that Austin has mastered the aesthetic.

But to properly portray Elvis Presley requires so much more than an uncanny resemblance.

Austin Butler as Elvis Presley in 'Elvis'.
Warner Bros. | Warner Bros.

What sets Austin apart from the gaggle of Las Vegas Elvis impersonators is his mastery of voice, his immaculate high tenor timbre, and the way he moves his body — as if he were possessed by the devil himself.

While this is undoubtedly the most iconic role Butler has ever undertaken, it's far from his first glimpse of the limelight.

Austin Butler in 'Elvis'.
Warner Bros. | Warner Bros.

Younger readers may remember Austin from his appearances in the Nickelodeon/Disney Channel series Zoey 101 and Wizards of Waverly Place.

The young actor has also had recurring roles in 'Switched At Birth' and 'The Carrie Diaries'.

Austin Butler in 'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood'.
Sony Pictures Releasing | Sony Pictures Releasing

My personal favorite, however, was when Austin brought the infamous and maniacal Charles "Tex" Watson to life in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon A Time in Hollywood.

When it came to securing the role of Elvis, Austin was up against some incredibly tough competition.

Stich as Elvis in 'Lilo And Stitch'.
Giphy

Also rumored to be in consideration were singer Harry Styles, West Side Story's Ansel Algort, the MCU's Aaron Taylor-Johnson, as well as Miles Teller.

Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks is also poised to appear in a supporting role as Col. Tom Parker.

Tom Hanks in 'Elvis'.
Warner Bros. | Warner Bros.

Colonel Tom Parker was the man who, in effect, discovered Elvis Presley. He managed every aspect of Elvis' life and career until the day the King died.

When asked what drew him to the role, Austin cited a desire to explore Elvis' humanity.

Austin Butler in 'Elvis'.
Warner Bros. | Warner Bros.

"He’s held up to super-human status," Butler explained to the AU Review. "To get to explore that and learn the way he was, and find the human within that icon, that was really such a joy that I could do for the rest of my life."

The film is set for release its theatrical release on June 24th, 2022.

Until then, Presley purists all the world over will be waiting with bated breath to see whether or not Austin is able to give the King the requiem he deserves.