Austin Butler Just Got Caught Stealing..?

Austin Butler is no stranger to reinvention. After his turn as Elvis left fans mesmerized (and still debating the voice), the actor is back with another transformation — this time as Hank Thompson in Darren Aronofsky’s upcoming crime caper Caught Stealing. And if early buzz is anything to go by, audiences are already obsessed.

Based on Charlie Huston’s cult-favorite novel, Caught Stealing throws Butler into the gritty underbelly of New York City. Hank, once a baseball golden boy, now finds himself bartending and trying to keep life simple — until a favor for his punk-rock neighbor (played with chaotic charm by Matt Smith) spirals into a violent game of survival. Throw in a missing cat, some seriously dangerous gangsters, and Aronofsky’s signature intensity, and you’ve got the kind of R-rated ride fans can’t stop talking about.

Butler isn’t the only name drawing attention. The film boasts a stacked cast that feels more like a fever dream ensemble: Zoë Kravitz as Hank’s partner-in-crime (and possibly in love), Regina King bringing gravitas to a high-stakes role, Vincent D’Onofrio and Liev Schreiber chewing up the gangster landscape, and none other than Benito Martínez Ocasio (yes, Bad Bunny) making his mark in Hollywood once again.

Social media has already exploded over the first glimpses of the film. Clips of Butler bloodied and running through neon-lit streets have fans posting comparisons to classic Scorsese and even John Wick. “Austin Butler covered in bruises, running for his life in Caught Stealing? Inject that cinema straight into my veins,” one viral post read.

And of course, there’s Aronofsky. Known for his unflinching storytelling in Black Swan and The Whale, the director seems to be leaning into a pulpy, violent energy here that feels fresh for him — and very watchable for us.

Whether audiences are here for the cat, the chaos, or just to see Butler’s latest shape-shift, one thing’s clear: Caught Stealing isn’t flying under the radar. If anything, it’s already stolen the internet’s attention.