Featured Image Credit: Warner Bros./NBC
Topics: Film and TV, Oscars
Lisa McLoughlin
Fans are calling for Austin Butler to win an Oscar for Elvis after one of his poignant musical scenes was put side-by-side with footage of the iconic singer – and the similarity is astounding.
Butler’s rendition of ‘If I Can Dream’ comes at an important point of Elvis’ career when the Civil Rights movement came to prominence in America.
In the midst of filming his 1968 comeback special, the King enlisted the help of Earl Brown to pen the song after learning of Robert Kennedy’s assassination, two months after social justice leader Dr Martin Luther King’s death.
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Although the one-off was filmed in June of that year, it aired in December and illustrated how deeply Elvis was affected by Dr King’s assassination in particular.
The poignant moment in the film sees Butler in the singer’s iconic white suit in front of bold red letters that spell out ‘Elvis’ as he belts out the heartfelt song.
In light of the incredible scene, a fan has put together a side-by-side of Butler’s performance with Elvis’ in the TV special - and the actor’s similarity to the music icon’s movement and look is nothing short of uncanny.
The clip, which has gone viral on TikTok, has left many commenting in their droves, praising Butler for doing his ‘homework’ on the King and urging the Academy to give him an Oscar.
One wrote: "You just know Austin studied the Elvis video to get it perfect".
"Boy done his homework," another penned. "He was brilliant. Oscar surely".
A fan added: "Austin did a great job, 100% respect for his portrayal of the King".
"Nobody should deny this guy an Oscar," another posted.
It’s not the first time movie-goers have lauded the 30-year-old actor’s performance or urged the Academy to recognise his work.
Taking to Twitter when the film was originally released on 24 June, one thrilled viewer penned: "And the Oscar goes to…. #AustinButler."
Another insisted: "They aren't lying about Austin Butler. He is a shoe-in for an Oscar nom for the ‘Suspicious Minds’ sequence alone."
"Saw #Elvis with my mates last night, and for a guy who usually doesn’t like musical films or biopics, this was by far one of the best films of 2022 so far," a third added.
"Austin Butler deserves his Oscar, his performance as Elvis is one of the best I’ve ever seen, truly mind-blowing. Loved it."
Last month, Lisa Marie Presley, 54, insisted Butler should get an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of the King of Rock and Roll.
Asked by Extra if the actor deserves an Oscar nom for his work, Presley’s only child said: "A thousand percent... I mean, truly. You know, I’m a bit biased, but absolutely, 100 percent... I can look at it objectively as well, sure.
"I think that he did such an incredible job."
Elvis is cinemas now.
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