Tue Aug 26 12:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Austin Butler’s Method Acting Sparks Debate: Sleeping on Set, Studying Baseball Players’ Backsides

**LOS ANGELES, CA** – Austin Butler, the 34-year-old actor known for his immersive performances in “Elvis” and the upcoming “Dune: Part Two,” is once again making headlines for his dedication to his craft. However, his extreme method acting techniques for his upcoming film, “Caught Stealing,” are drawing mixed reactions from the public.

In “Caught Stealing,” set to release in late August 2025, Butler plays Hank, a former baseball player entangled in New York City’s criminal underworld. To prepare for the role, Butler revealed he spent a night alone on the film’s set, a replica of Hank’s New York City apartment, eating Chinese food, dancing, and sleeping in character. He was reportedly discovered the next morning by the film crew in his underwear.

“There are many things that conspire against you when you’re making a movie… So the more I can do to trick myself, the more important it is,” Butler told Variety, explaining his reasoning behind sleeping on set.

Directed by Darren Aronofsky, “Caught Stealing” also required Butler to achieve a specific physique, leading him to work with trainer Beth Lewis. In a recent interview, Butler jokingly revealed that Aronofsky even sent him photos of professional baseball players’ backsides for inspiration, commenting on their “thickness.”

While Butler believes these extreme measures help him connect with his characters on a deeper level, not everyone is convinced. Online forums, particularly on Reddit, are buzzing with criticism. Some users are calling the actor “inauthentic” and “insufferable,” with one user writing, “This dude is just f-cking weird.” Another commented, “It’s the sort of actor whose phone stops ringing the moment he stops being a box office draw.”

Butler, however, remains steadfast in his commitment to his craft. He explained that taking on a role so similar to himself was “frightening” and made him feel “vulnerable.” He hopes his dedication will translate into a compelling performance in “Caught Stealing.” Whether audiences will appreciate his methods or find them excessive remains to be seen. The film, co-starring Regina King and Zoe Kravitz, is scheduled for release in late August 2025.

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