Austin Butler set Instagram on fire this morning. But it wasn’t just any fire—it was more like the hot ember of a fresh thirst trap, sizzling with enough heat to make us question if our screens had malfunctioned. Butler, the actor who somehow managed to make the world forget that we were all supposed to be over the “Elvis obsession,” threw his shirt to the wind and shared a series of black-and-white photos showing off his perfectly sculpted physique, wrapped up in boxing gear. And let’s be real—he has every reason to flaunt it.
RELATED: Charlie Gillespie: The Actor and Musician You Need To Know
But there’s something deeper than just flexing muscles here. In these images, we see the 34-year-old actor working out with a heavy punch bag. He’s a fan of boxing as a workout alternative, and it makes sense: there’s a certain raw intensity to the sport that matches the intensity of his career right now.
But before you get too lost in the muscle flexing and the well-oiled motorcycle shots (we all know what those do to the queer community), let’s dial it back. Austin Butler’s life hasn’t always been this smooth or shiny. In fact, it’s been a bit of a whirlwind. After playing Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, Austin got a full-on career overhaul—and a couple of medical emergencies to boot. We’re talking appendicitis, temporary blindness (yep, seriously), and even a glass shard in his foot that he casually walked on for eight months.
Imagine this: Butler’s foot pain was so intense, he had to walk around South Korea with his toes curled under, avoiding further injury like some kind of human pretzel. Only after months of living through that pain did a doctor yank out a shard of glass. Ouch.
RELATED: Austin Butler & Callum Turner React to Barry Keoghan’s Viral Pantsuit
But while we can all agree that Austin Butler’s got some serious stamina—physical and emotional—his recent thoughts on the grind might hit a bit closer to home. You see, acting for Austin used to be all about shedding himself. “For a long time, I felt that it had to be a tortured process,” he admits. The whole “become the character and leave yourself behind” thing. Elvis was no exception: when he took on the role, he completely immersed himself in the King’s identity, losing track of who he was. That didn’t come without its price. But after that huge, all-consuming performance, Austin found himself asking: “What now?”
Let’s pause for a second and talk about that. How many of us, after a massive project or personal goal, find ourselves standing there wondering, “Who am I without this thing? What do I even like anymore?” The notion of losing yourself in something (whether it’s a job, a relationship, or a passion project) and then having to rediscover your sense of self is one that resonates hard. But Austin’s figuring it out—and in a surprising way.
In his next roles, he’s leaning into the idea that acting doesn’t have to completely erase who you are. After all, he’s worked with legends like Denzel Washington and Brad Pitt (you know, just a casual mention of those names), and the feedback he’s gotten is about finding stability in himself—something that, according to his Enemies co-star Jeremy Allen White, Austin is still searching for. And maybe that’s why, despite his star power, he exudes this quiet gentleness that makes him stand out in a world of big egos. It’s like he’s learned to embrace his humanness—glass-shard injuries and all.
But let’s be real for a second: isn’t that exactly what we all need from our heartthrobs? The most magnetic people often feel the most grounded. Austin Butler, for all his stardom, seems to have figured that out.
Back to those motorcycle shots (yes, let’s) and the thirst we all collectively experienced when they hit our feeds: we might be joking about his “romantic proposals in the comments” (don’t worry, Austin, we get it), but truthfully, he’s more than just a pretty face. It’s easy to be distracted by the abs and the motorcycles, but his willingness to grow as a person, balance work with peace, and acknowledge the quiet importance of staying grounded is what makes him really noteworthy.
And in case we need a reminder of just how likable he is—Austin’s ability to bring joy and charm even to simple moments, like chatting with Jeremy Allen White about Bruce Springsteen, shows that he’s navigating Hollywood like he’s walking through a giant neighborhood. Everyone’s a friend. Not bad for someone who could have easily turned into the tortured, brooding type we tend to expect from our hottest stars.
So, yes, Austin Butler may have his moments of chaos (who wouldn’t, with all those life-altering experiences?), but he’s learning how to roll with the punches—both in and out of the ring—and keeping us all on our toes in the process. That’s a different kind of heat that we can get behind.
Source: Men’s Health
Austin, stop smoking!