AUSTIN BUTLER is on the cover of Men’s Health US this month and showing off muscles we didn’t know he had. The actor is known for being method, immersing himself into the personalities and mannerisms of the characters he plays, be it Elvis, a World War II bomber pilot, a taciturn ’70s biker or the psychotic son of a tyrannical emperor.
In any case, rippling muscles haven’t been a pre-requisite for Butler’s previous roles. That changed with his new film, Caught Stealing, in which he plays a former baseball star turned bartender named Hank.
Butler wanted to look like an athlete, but not a superhero. Director Darren Aronofsky wanted it to look believable when Hank starts sprinting through the streets, arms slicing the air as he evades a pair of mobsters, with the kind of fluid movement that comes naturally to someone accustomed to rounding bases.
To pull off the transformation, Butler has been training for months. The result? Biceps like a bell curve, chiselled abs, and a new look that will open him up to a tonne of new roles. This is how he did it.
How Austin Butler trained for Caught Stealing
A baseball player’s physique was Butler’s reference point throughout his training. Aronofsky would send him pictures of baseball players, so he could see what he was working towards. “I actually have a whole section of just baseball players’ asses that he would send me,” Butler said in his cover story. “He was like, ‘Look how thick they are!’ ”
He worked with trainer Beth Lewis, who had him training six or seven days a week, prioritising functional movements that would help him build strength while also improving his mobility. He did everything from balancing on a BOSU ball to one-arm kettlebell moves, and “a tonne of hip thrusters.”
Eventually he achieved the desired size in his hindquarters. “I’ve got a whole section of Celine pants that I just can’t even wear anymore,” he said.
How Austin Butler ate for Caught Stealing
When Butler began meeting with Aronofsky before production on Caught Stealing was underway, he had a very slight frame. He weighed only 68kg when he started training, and six months later, he was up to 84kg.
Butler’s diet was crucial in adding bulk. While Hank is a former baseball star, he is also a bartender with a drinking problem. To avoid appearing overly cut, Butler ate constantly, with a lot of pizza and beer. On healthier days, Butler subsisted on omelettes, chicken kebabs and the occasional steak. It’s not exactly what you’d expect from a Men’s Health cover star, but this is a classic example of how the simplest way to gain or lose weight is calorie management.
