Austin Butler, known for his transformative roles, has once again committed to a drastic physical change, this time focusing on developing a “thick butt” for his upcoming film, Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing. Unlike his earlier weight gain for Elvis, this specific physical alteration was meticulously planned and executed to embody the physique of a former baseball player, a key aspect requested by the director.
Building a Baseball-Ready Physique
For his role as Hank, a former baseball player turned bartender in Caught Stealing, director Darren Aronofsky had a very specific vision for Butler’s physique, particularly emphasizing his glutes. Butler revealed that Aronofsky would send him “a whole section of just baseball players’ asses” as inspiration, instructing him to observe “how thick they are!” This directive spurred a targeted training regimen designed to build significant muscle mass in the gluteal region.
The Training Regimen: Hip Thrusters and Expert Guidance
To achieve the desired “baseball butt,” Butler enlisted the expertise of trainer Beth Lewis, known for her work with Hugh Jackman on his Wolverine physique. The cornerstone of Butler’s glute-building routine was “a ton of hip thrusters.” This exercise is highly effective for targeting the glutes, promoting hip extension, and allowing for heavy loading to maximize muscle gain. Glute training, as emphasized by fitness experts, not only contributes to aesthetic goals but also helps “bulletproof” the lower back, preventing injuries, and enhances overall strength and power for activities like jumping, running, squatting, and deadlifting.
Beyond glute-specific work, Butler’s overall training for Caught Stealing was intense, involving six months of dedicated effort that saw him gain 35 pounds.
The “Lenient” Diet: Pizza and Beer
In a surprising twist for a physical transformation, Butler’s diet for Caught Stealing included unconventional elements. Given his character’s arc as a bartender with a drinking problem, Butler incorporated a “lenient” approach, consuming “a whole lot of pizza and drinking beer.” This stands in stark contrast to his method for gaining weight for the Elvis film, where he reportedly drank melted ice cream and ate dozens of doughnuts to bulk up quickly. While the Caught Stealing diet helped him gain the necessary weight, he has since indicated he has moved away from the pizza and beer, opting for healthier choices like wedge salads, shrimp cocktails, and filet mignon.
Butler’s dedication to physical authenticity for his roles continues to redefine his on-screen presence, with his latest transformation for Caught Stealing showcasing his commitment to embodying character-specific demands down to the smallest detail.
