Austin Butler at the 'Caught Stealing' premiere in New York. Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment Austin Butler is clearing up some misconceptions surrounding his acting approach. Butler has been called a method actor, but he stops short of using that term when describing his process, no matter how admittedly "obsessive" he gets. His so-called method acting reputation began with the filming of Baz Luhrmann's 2022 film Elvis, which earned him an Academy Award nomination. The role was so intense that it resulted in Butler being rushed to the hospital due to his body shutting down the day after filming wrapped. He also hired a dialect coach because he couldn't shake off the Elvis accent from spending three years preparing to portray the King of Rock 'n' Roll. Related Stories Business Inside Opening Night of 'Wizard of Oz' at the Sphere: "We're Finally Off to See the Wizard" TV Why Oscar Nuñez Was the Only 'The Office' Star Brought Back for 'The Paper' At the New York City premiere of Caught Stealing earlier this week, The Bikeriders star told The Hollywood Reporter what he thinks about his method reputation. "I never have used the word 'method.' I think that word gets thrown around a lot. It's a very misunderstood thing that isn't really what I do," he said. Austin Butler arrives in style to the New York premiere of #CaughtStealing pic.twitter.com/AoQBQhD8Mt- The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) August 26, 2025 He went on to explain that even though he enjoys learning about acting and admires many actors who go method, "It's more that I just like to immerse myself." In Darren Aronofsky's latest film, set in 1998 New York City, Butler plays Hank Thompson, a former star high school baseball player who turns to bartending in the Lower East Side after his baseball talents get cut short due to a car accident. However, his life turns upside down when he decides to look after his neighbor Russ' (Matt Smith) cat (aka Tonic the cat) while he's out of town. Tonic the cat drives a car in a jacket at the #CaughtStealing premiere pic.twitter.com/4mereaHTmT- The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) August 27, 2025 The actor performed his own stunts, including running away from people following him with cars, being beaten up repeatedly and getting slammed into a wooden table. He also acknowledged that, even though his roles can become all-consuming, he's finding his footing. "Sometimes when I get really scared, I can become incredibly obsessive. And when I really love something, I can become incredibly obsessive, and that can mean that I don't have a balance outside of that," Butler said. "And so, less than using that word of [method] it's more of just trying to figure out how to learn how to balance life and realizing that I want to get to be around the people that I love and live the best life I can." Additional members of the ensemble include Zoë Kravitz, who plays Butler's love interest, Yvonne, and Regina King, who plays detective Roman, crime bosses played by Nikita Kukushkin and Bad Bunny, and violent hitmen played by Liev Schreiber and Vincent D'Onofrio. Butler went to great efforts to bring his character to life, so much so that he told castmember Nikita to "kick me harder," during a fight scene. Despite these extreme lengths, D'Onofrio told THR he did not fear for his younger co-star. "He definitely knows what he's doing, that kid. He knows how to handle dramatic scenes. He can handle comedy, he can handle action. I didn't worry about Austin for one second." Bad Bunny, Zoe Kravitz and Austin Butler pose together at the premiere of #CaughtStealing pic.twitter.com/kGnpYt1uWz- The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) August 26, 2025 Sony's Caught Stealing is now out in theaters. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up Telluride Film Festival 'Highway 99: A Double Album' Review: Ethan Hawke Pays Tribute to Merle Haggard With a Rousing and Soulful Pilgrimage Through His Songs Venice Reviews 'After the Hunt': What the Critics Are Saying Venice Film Festival 2025 Luca Guadagnino and Julia Roberts' Divisive #MeToo Movie 'After the Hunt' Gets Hero's Welcome in Venice Heat Vision 'The Toxic Avenger' Filmmaker Macon Blair Rejects 2024's "Unreleasable" Report, Talks Cathartic Phone Calls with Jeremy Saulnier Woody Allen The Long, Charged History of the "Woody Allen Font" Yellowjackets 'Yellowjackets' Star Simone Kessell Among Cast Additions to Chris Hemsworth's Amazon MGM Film 'Subversion' (Exclusive) Telluride Film Festival 'Highway 99: A Double Album' Review: Ethan Hawke Pays Tribute to Merle Haggard With a Rousing and Soulful Pilgrimage Through His Songs Venice Reviews 'After the Hunt': What the Critics Are Saying Venice Film Festival 2025 Luca Guadagnino and Julia Roberts' Divisive #MeToo Movie 'After the