Austin Butler discusses Quentin Tarantino, Denzel Washington and PB&J in new Hot Ones episode
Ever since Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 musical biopic Elvis, Austin Butler’s name has been on everyone’s lips. Having started his acting career on the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, the Californian 31-year-old not only impressed the world with his performance as the King of Rock and Roll, but also as the off-screen heartthrob who got so into his role that he never truly managed to use his normal (and higher pitched) voice again.
Internet virality put aside, there’s no denying that Butler is here to stay. After recently winning a Golden Globe Award, he’s now also received a nomination from the Academy Awards for Best Actor. Butler is also set to feature in Denis Villeneuve’s sequel to Dune alongside Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Florence Pugh.
All this to say, things are looking pretty good for Butler, which also explains why he recently got invited on the viral interview show Hot Ones. If, like so many of us, you simply can’t get enough of the actor’s newfound voice, and are curious to see how much viciously spicy wings he can handle, then you’ll want to get all the details on what went down on the show.
Of course, Butler had to kick things off with Presley’s filmography, sharing thoughts on different acting methods up until he decided to reveal some fun stories about his past experiences working on different movies other than Elvis.
Looking back on how great of a time he had on the set of Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time… in Hollywood, in which he played Tex Watson, Butler told Hot Ones host Sean Evans, “The first time that I heard this, it was just so cool, because I mean, I’ve talked a lot about how much Quentin meant to me, and it was just always my dream to work with him. But he, we’re on set and he says, ‘Okay we got it, but we’re gonna do one more. You know why?’ And the entire crew screams, ‘Because we love making movies!’” he recalled.
“And the first time you’re there… you’re not in on it. And so, Brad [Pitt] and Leo [DiCaprio], everybody is like, ‘Because we love making movies!’ There are sets that are so sterile. There are sets where there is no joy. There are sets where people are like, just at a job,” Butler went on.
“And you’re trying to create something that you’re gonna give to the world, you know? And with Quentin, that was so cool, because it just changes the atoms in the room. And then you’re in on it! And so every new crew member, or actor, whoever, then suddenly they’re part of the tribe at that point, saying ‘We love making movies’.”
As the wings got hotter, though, Butler grabbed a glass of oat milk, wiped his nose, and lost his train of thought. Other highlights of the episode include the actor sharing memories of his time working with Denzel Washington and an anecdote about how he was “the only kid in elementary school who got this letter that allowed me to, every lunch, walk home and eat lunch with my mom.”
By the time the interview ends, Butler is deep in thought about peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Not sure what we’re on about? Listen to the “sniffling Bob Ross” decide that spreading grape jelly “is gonna be my new therapy”, and thank us later.
