It might come naturally or might be rehearsed but Austin Butler knows exactly how to capture the King of Rock n’ Roll’s iconic charisma.

A few days after the news of Butler’s casting as the lead in director Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Presley biopic, the budding star appeared alongside longtime girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens on the red carpet. The couple donned black-on-black ensembles on the premiere of Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Speaking to ET the actor says about the opportunity of a lifetime,

“I am just profoundly honored that Baz has invited me on this journey with him. It’s an extraordinary privilege. And I just feel so blessed to be working with such singular directors like him and Quentin Tarantino.”

While Butler gushed over the chance to work on the project, Luhrmann had some glowing words for the actor as well.

The director explained in a statement why he chose Butler for the role over vying young talents Ansel Elgort, Harry Styles and Miles Teller who all did screen tests for the film.

“I knew I couldn’t make this film if the casting wasn’t absolutely right, and we searched thoroughly for an actor with the ability to evoke the singular natural movement and vocal qualities of this peerless star, but also the inner vulnerability of the artist,” Luhrmann said. “Throughout the casting process, it was an honor for me to encounter such a vast array of talent.”

“I had heard about Austin Butler from his stand-out role opposite Denzel Washington in The Iceman Cometh on Broadway, and through a journey of extensive screen testing and music and performance workshops, I knew unequivocally that I had found someone who could embody the spirit of one of the world’s most iconic musical figures,” the statement added.