Every Austin Butler Role So Far and What’s Next

“City on Fire”

Butler is set to star in and produce Sony’s 3000 Pictures film adaptation of best-selling author Don Winslow’s “City on Fire.”

Per the official Sony 3000 Pictures synopsis, the original trilogy of books focuses on two criminal empires — one Irish, the other Italian — that control all of New England, until a modern-day Helen of Troy tears them apart and starts a brutal war. The main character, Danny Ryan, is forced to grow from a street soldier into a ruthlessly efficient leader to protect his friends, his family and the home he loves. Fighting the Mafia, the local cops, the feds – everyone – Danny builds a dynasty or will die trying.

“The Bikeriders”

Jeff Nichols (“Mud,” “Midnight Special”) writes and directs “The Bikeriders” about the rise of a Midwestern motorcycle gang. Butler leads alongside Michael Shannon, Tom Hardy, and Boyd Holbrook, with Norman Reedus and Jodie Comer also starring. 

“Masters of the Air”

Along with fellow first-time Oscar nominee Barry Keoghan, Butler is set to star in the Tom Hanks-produced “Masters of the Air” AppleTV+ limited series, believed to be directed by Dee Rees, Cary Fukunaga, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, and Tim Van Patten. 

The official logline reads: Five miles above the earth and deep behind enemy lines, 11 men inside a bomber known as the “Flying Fortress” fight for their lives against swarms of enemy German fighters. As American bombers are picked off one by one, their mission becomes very clear: survive.

Callum Turner, Anthony Boyle, Ben Radcliffe, Edward Ashley, and James Murray are among the ensemble cast for the WWII-set series which is being produced in part with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television banner, along with Hanks’ Playtone. Consider it the third part of a trilogy with “Band of Brothers” and “The Pacific.”

“Dune: Part Two”

Butler is confirmed to play Feyd-Rautha, the evil nephew of Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård) and the heir to the Harkonnen empire in the “Dune” sequel, helmed by Denis Villeneuve.

Butler told Backstage magazine of the role: “It’s that thing of the bad guy in the world doesn’t feel like he’s the bad guy. He feels like he’s the hero of his own story. And that can be a hard thing with certain characters; with others, it’s easier, but you have to not judge the character, and you have to find a way to feel the motivation towards anyone of your actions. So, we had a lot of conversations and crafted that together.”

For all the details on “Dune: Part Two,” click here.

“Elvis” (2022)

Butler proved to be unrecognizable in his star-making lead turn as Elvis Presley for Baz Luhrmann’s operatic musical biopic. Butler stayed in character as the King of Rock ‘n Roll for years through production, and only recently confirmed he was shedding the signature Presley growl. 

“With ‘Elvis,’ I definitely had an existential crisis when I finished. I didn’t do anything that was grounded in Austin for that time. I didn’t talk to my family or my friends or anybody,” Butler told IndieWire. “I would talk to them every couple months or something, but I really did lose touch with me. But I also learned things about myself — that’s a beautiful gift. It’s a confusing part about being an actor.” 

“Elvis” director Luhrmann also revealed that a possible concert cut of the fim could be released featuring Butler’s onscreen performances as Presley. 

“Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide” (2005 – 2007)

Butler appeared in 41 episodes of “Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide,” as character Zippy Brewster despite being uncredited. 

“Hannah Montana” (2006 – 2007)

Butler appeared in two episodes of “Hannah Montana,” with his second appearance playing Derek Hanson, Hannah’s blind date in Season 2 Episode 7, titled “My Best Friend’s Boyfriend.” 

“Zoey 101” (2007 – 2008)

Butler starred in 10 episodes of the beloved series, all while making guest appearances in fellow teen shows “iCarly,” “Wizards of Waverly Place,” and Out of Jimmy’s Head.” 

“Aliens in the Attic” (2009)

Butler’s first film appearance was in 2009 with “Aliens in the Attic,” about a group of kids who must protect their vacation home from invading extraterrestrials. Ashley Tisdale, Robert Hoffman, Carter Jenkins, Kevin Nealon, Tim Meadows, and Doris Roberts rounded out the ensemble cast.

“Ruby and the Rockits” (2009)

Butler had a 10-episode stint on the shortlived series “Ruby and the Rockits” about a teen struggling to cope with living with her single father and uncle who were famous rockers in the ’80s. Alexa PenaVega and David Cassidy also starred. 

“Life Unexpected” (2010 – 2011)

In addition to episodes of “CSI: Miami,” “CSI: NY,” “Jonas,” and “The Defenders” (not the Netflix Marvel series), Butler found a steady gig with “Life Unexpected,” appearing in 10 episodes of the ABC Family series. 

“The Bling Ring” (2011)

No, not the Sofia Coppola film. Butler starred in the made-for-TV version based on the true story of Los Angeles teens ransacking celebrities’ homes. Yin Chang, Jennifer Grey, and Tom Irwin also starred in the Lifetime movie.

“Switched at Birth” (2011 – 2012)

Butler played James “Wilkie” Wilkerson in the ABC Family series “Switched at Birth” about, well, two teens who were swapped at the hospital as babies. 

“The Carrie Diaries” (2013 – 2014)

Before Mr. Big, there was Butler. The Oscar nominee appeared as one of young Carrie Bradshaw’s (AnnaSophia Robb) love interests in prequel series “The Carrie Diaries.” However, the CW show wasn’t emotionally fulfilling for Butler, as he later told Backstage magazine, “When you watch ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ and then suddenly you’re doing a CW show, you kind of just….As great as those experiences were — and I’m so grateful for them and everybody involved — there was this hunger inside of me.” 

“The Shannara Chronicles” (2016 – 2017)

Butler appeared in The CW show “Arrow” and horror film “The Intruders” before landing his final tween series “The Shannara Chronicles,” based on fantasy author Terry Brooks’ novels. Filmed in New Zealand, the MTV show began production shortly after Butler’s mother died of cancer in 2014.

“After my mom passed away, I went straight to New Zealand to start shooting a young-adult TV show,” Butler told The Hollywood Reporter in reference to the series. “A lot of people enjoyed the show, and I had fun doing horseback riding and that sort of thing, but I’d go home and cry every night.”

He added, “I was dealing with grief, but it was also this feeling that I wasn’t aligned with something that felt truly fulfilling. I got done with that show, once they canceled it after two seasons, and I said, ‘I would rather not work as an actor than ever do something like that again.'” 

It was after leaving “The Shannara Chronicles” that Butler starred in “The Iceman Cometh” on Broadway, leading him to connect with co-star Denzel Washington and the Academy Award winner suggesting Butler to lead Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis.” 

“Dude” (2018)

“Ocean’s 8” screenwriter Olivia Milch directed Netflix film “Dude” about a group of teenage girls who grapple with graduating high school. Lucy Hale, Alexandra Shipp, Kathryn Prescott, and Awkwafina star, along with Alex Wolff, Austin Abrams, and of course, Butler. 

“The Dead Don’t Die” (2019)

Butler appeared alongside Selena Gomez, Adam Driver, and Bill Murray in Jim Jarmusch’s existential zombie comedy “The Dead Don’t Die.” 

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (2019)

Butler had a pinch-me experience while filming Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” Butler plays Manson follower Tex in the Oscar-winning epic led by Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio, but it was the in-between moments on set that Butler remembers best. 

“We were sitting there eating Nutella crepes, and Quentin goes, ‘How great is this?’ I think back to my 12-year-old self, being there with Quentin and eating a crepe at three in the morning on his set,” Butler told GQ. “And he goes, ‘You know what my goal is? My goal is to give everybody on this set such a good time that their next job sucks.'”