Austin Butler, who played Elvis Presley, recently revealed how the job “left him fatigued and sick” soon after finishing Baz Luhrmann’s music biopic.

Butler told GQ magazine, “The next day I woke up at four a.m. with tremendous pain, and I was transported to the hospital.” My body basically shut down the day after I finished ‘Elvis.'”

According to the singer-actor, he was “diagnosed with a virus that caused appendicitis,” which restricted him to his bed for a week.

Butler stated that the arduous process of preparing for the part of the late King of Rock ‘n Roll had a negative impact on his health.

For those who are unaware, the actor was officially cast as Elvis Presley in July 2019. However, the film’s production was halted in March 2020 due to COVID.

Nonetheless, Luhrmann told the outlet that he was so engrossed in Elvis Presley’s life and music that he couldn’t stop.

“Honestly, I put him through the ringer, but he lived Elvis. What he’s managed to do is not do an impersonation, but to live Elvis, to the extent that he’s humanised him,” said the director.

As for Butler’s performance, Presley’s ex-wife Priscilla Presley, daughter Lisa Marie Presley, and granddaughter Riley Keough got emotional seeing him playing the role.

Marie remarked that the former Disney star “embodied my father’s heart and soul beautifully”.

Meanwhile, Elvis has been receiving rave reviews at its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. The movie is slated to release in U.S. theatres on June 24.