Austin Butler Chose Tarantino Over 'Top Gun: Maverick' Screen Test

Despite missing out on 'Top Gun', Butler's career soared with roles in 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood', 'Masters of the Air', and an Oscar-nominated performance in 'Elvis'.

• Austin Butler, known for his Oscar-nominated performance in 'Elvis', had to choose between screen testing for 'Top Gun: Maverick' or working with Quentin Tarantino on 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood'.
• Butler chose Tarantino, having already met with him and expressing a long-held desire to work with the acclaimed director.
• He was up for the role of Rooster in 'Top Gun: Maverick', which ultimately went to Miles Teller.
• Butler's decision doesn't seem to have hindered his career, as he later landed a role in Apple TV+'s 'Masters of the Air', executive produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks.
• 'Top Gun: Maverick' casting director Denise Chamian later cast Butler in the title role of Baz Luhrmann’s 'Elvis', for which he became Oscar-nominated.

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