There was much excitement, bemusement and scratching of heads last month when it was revealed that Harry Styles was in the running to play Elvis Presley on the big screen.
The former boyband singer had reportedly screen-tested for Baz Luhrmann's new biopic of The King, alongside the likes of Ansel Elgort ('The Fault in Our Stars'), Aaron Taylor-Johnson ('Kick-Ass') and Miles Teller ('Whiplash').
However, the role has now been cast and none of those actors have made the cut.
Instead, the Australian director has plumbed for Austin Butler, and we have to admit that the 27-year-old looks born for the part - physically, if nothing else.
Luhrmann said in a statement: "I knew I couldn’t make this film if the casting wasn’t absolutely right, and we 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.
"Throughout the casting process, it was an honor for me to encounter such a vast array of talent. I had heard about Austin Butler from his standout role opposite Denzel Washington in The Iceman Cometh on Broadway, and through a journey of extensive screen testing and music and performance workshops, I knew unequivocally that I had found someone who could embody the spirit of one of the world’s most iconic musical figures.”
The film, which is also being co-produced and co-written by Luhrmann, will focus largely on the relationship between Elvis and his manager Col. Tom Parker, who is being played by Tom Hanks.
Butler, meanwhile - whose girlfriend is actress Vanessa Hudgens - will next be seen in Quentin Tarantino's 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' and Jim Jarmusch's 'The Dead Don't Die'. His early work included various Disney and Nickelodeon shows like 'Hannah Montana' and 'Zoey101', with later film roles in the likes of 2015 horror 'The Intruders'.
