Austin Butler, Darren Aronofsky talk new film ‘Caught Stealing’ at Texas screening

Darren Aronofsky burst into the film world with “Pi” and then blew our minds with “Requiem for a Dream” and incredible followups like “The Wrestler” and “Black Swan.” His new film is “Caught Stealing,” starring Austin Butler of “Elvis” and “Dune” fame, among others.

It’s out Friday, Aug 29. Butler and Aronofsky stopped in Austin to promote the film, and the Standard caught up with them at Austin’s iconic Continental Club. Listen to the interview above or read the transcript below.

This transcript has been edited lightly for clarity:

Texas Standard: You know, I got to say, you guys got an amazing welcome to Austin at the local premiere from UT-Austin’s Minister of Culture, Matthew McConaughey. Darren, I know that you produced a film that starred Matthew, right? “White Boy Rick”?

Darren Aronofsky: Oh, that’s right. That’s right.

Oh, had to remind you. So you hadn’t worked closely?

Darren Aronofsky: No, no. But, I mean, we’re friends, socially. We have a lot of mutual friends and we see each other out over the years and he’s just one of the most charismatic people on the planet.

Yeah, and you can’t get a more official Austin welcome. And then Austin, for you, I mean, I’m projecting, but being an actor and having an actor so complement your work… I mean, was that pretty cool?

Austin Butler: Yeah, that was surreal. All the things he said last night were… Those are moments you get a pinch yourself, because I admire him so deeply. I was beaming last night

I love that. So “Caught Stealing.” It feels like a theater movie. Darren, I know this is a story you’ve wanted to tell for a long time, based on the book with the same name, but was making a theater movie… Was that at all like a motivation for you getting folks out in this time of streaming and sort of some of the challenges to movie theaters?

Darren Aronofsky: Oh, I didn’t know there was a difference between a theater movie and a non-movie. I don’t think I’ve… I haven’t done a movie for streaming. It’s not really what I’m interested in.

I think the theatrical experience is like, still an amazing experience. But the question is, you now, how do you get people to come out? And I think this is like a, there’s a lot of things in it, I think, that make it a communal experience.

There’s, of course, somehow I made a comedy, which is new for me. It’s been great watching audiences just kinda laugh along with it, but there’s just this incredible rock and roll beat to the film brought by my favorite band, the Idles.

Mine too, actually.

Darren Aronofsky: Actually, not “the Idles.” Idles.

Idles, yes. We corrected Austin earlier.

Darren Aronofsky: They’re just all over it. So it sounds incredible. It looks great. And it’s just filled with so many great actors.

I’m hoping everyone comes out and sees it in the movie theater, because it’s interesting, because it’s not gonna show up streaming in two weeks. It’s not going to show up streaming, probably, until like 2026. So this is the time to see it.

Well, you probably hate this. You’re going to walk out and hate me forever for trying to find themes in your films.

But they talk about psychological. They talk about surrealism. Another thing that we sort of see, though, is like, I don’t know if “body” is the right word, but people pushing themselves to their extremes with “The Wrestler” or with the ballerina in “Black Swan.” And there is some of that here.

And I wonder if you think that’s a reason you’re drawn to a story like this, or no?

Darren Aronofsky: Am I paying you to be my shrink?

Yeah, I mean, there’s a truth to that. Austin definitely goes through a crazy physical journey. His character, Hank Thompson, takes a beating, but he keeps getting up. That’s why I love the character. He just like kept getting up and kept fighting back and kept trying to figure out what’s… You know, fighting for what’s right.

But yeah, I think it was both hard on Hank Thompson, the character Austin plays, and Austin Butler, the human being.

Well, Austin, it is a physical film, but you’ve said that it was a vulnerable role for you. And I wonder why. I mean, is it less costume, more your face, more close to your real personality? Why would you say that?

Austin Butler: It’s definitely that. You know, I mean, if you think about the difference between this character and the character I played in Dune…. That’s a character that’s very far from me physically, vocally… It’s a very different vehicle that I’m driving in.

And with this, it was less of a character – although he’s living a very different life from mine. I also knew the tightrope that we were gonna be walking, where everything that’s happening, it makes me think of that Mel Brooks quote, which – have I said this one before? Oh, wait, what is it? “Tragedy is when I stub my toe. Comedy is when you fall in a manhole and die.”

And it’s when it’s happening to somebody else. And so, for Hank, it’s a tragedy. And then I think when you’re watching from the outside, I was surprised by the comedy, actually.

Darren Aronofsky: I think it’s definitely because it’s Austin’s movie and there’s a crazy journey for his character. There’s so much of different sides and different shades that we’ve never seen before as an audience.

I’m excited for people to see that, to see how great of an actor this kid is.

Austin, you said you wanted to work with Darren for a really long time. You started as a child actor and you were interested in doing this and heard his name. Did you really watch “Requiem for a Dream” when you were 12?

Austin Butler: Yes, yeah.

You okay?

Austin Butler: Yeah, I mean, I need a shrink now.

But it’s honestly… That was around the time that I started to see the craft of making movies and the craft of acting and the craft of editing and I think primarily, you know, I’ve spoken before about when printing out the “Pulp Fiction” script. That was one of the first times I remember thinking, “wow, whoever wrote this?” The idea of writing being something that was so… I was able to start separating the pieces of filmmaking.

With “Requiem,” it was the way that Darren played with rhythm and editing, and then on top of that, the visceral performances. And so Ellen [Burstyn]’s performance, everybody’s performance in that film, it was something that I’d never seen before. It hit me in the gut. And then going on from there and seeing how he evolved artistically.

I vividly remember when “Black Swan” came out and when “The Wrestler” came out. And then you set up a screening for me to watch “The Whale.” I went and watched that by myself. I was in Cincinnati filming “The Bike Riders” and I went by myself to this theater and I watched “The Whale” and bawled my eyes out.

So I’ve just been… I’ve been very moved by his work over the years.

Well, you did something that you’re not supposed to do in this movie, Darren, right? By the old adage is like “never work with children or animals,” right? And there’s a cat that has a very big role in so many scenes. Was it a nightmare or was it okay?

Darren Aronofsky: It was an incredible cat. Tonic, and Tonic’s trainer, are just an incredible team. And everyone warned us against working with the cat, but it was just a remarkable creature.

I went through a lot of casting for the cat and it was like how do you cast a cat? Well, they just come in and I guess first you start with photographs so that you don’t really interrupt them or create any stress on them, just to see what they generally look like. Sometimes the trainers will send videos just to show you the general things they can do.

Cats are not like dogs, where they are very easy to train. I think cats, you know, are not really trained. They’re just sort of willing to do something. They kind of know what you want, and then either they want to do it or they won’t do it. It’s very different than a dog. And then eventually some of the cats come in, you do like a meet and greet kind of thing.

Are you vibing with this cat?

Darren Aronofsky: No, you don’t vibe with Tonic. No, Tonic’s like a working cat. You don’t pet Tonic.

Well, I learned that.

Darren Aronofsky: Not just because Tonic’s a biter, but like Tonic is a working creature. It’s not like a cuddling creature. So that was hard for people to understand.

Cause even myself, I’d see Tonic and I felt affection for Tonic. I’d be like, “oh,” and I’d remember, no Tonic doesn’t want to be touched.

Austin Butler: He’s primal, he’s a primal animal. Whereas we had another cat who was the cuddler. So when it’s sitting on my lap or something…

Darren Aronofsky: 90% of the movie is Tonic and there were a few other cats that had some special skills, meaning “could be held and carried and liked it.”

And what about the limping cat?

Darren Aronofsky: Tonic couldn’t do that.

That’s a special skill.

Darren Aronofsky: Yeah, there was one cat that didn’t mind if you put a string around, or I think we put a piece of tape on the bottom of the foot of the cat, so the cat was sort of like confused by what it was.

OK, and that’s not a spoiler. I feel like that’s safe within “not-spoiler” range.

Austin, I’m not going to set this up as a binary because I don’t believe that it’s an either/or. Are you a cat person?

Austin Butler: Yes.

Darren Aronofsky: No. I’m talking about myself.

Austin Butler: Oh, you’re talking about yourself. I grew up with more dogs, but my parents did adopt a lot of animals. So I’ve had about three cats in my life that we had when I was a kid, and I’m enamored by cats. I have an obsession with cats. I could just watch a cat for hours. I love them.

And when they let you in.

Austin Butler: When they let you in. You have to earn it. They have to come to you.

Darren Aronofsky: The trainer was blown away by the connection that Austin was able to have with Tonic.

So Tonic was okay with you? Like, did you pet Tonic?

Austin Butler: Yeah, I mean, not a lot. I respect Tonic.

Darren Aronofsky: Remind me to tell you the Hugh Jackman animal story when we’re off mic. It just has nothing to do with this movie, but in “The Fountain,” it was very interesting what happened.

Austin Butler: Okay, I wanna hear that. I’m fascinated.

From left to right, Austin Butler, Darren Aronofsky and Matthew McConaughey attend the “Caught Stealing” special screening in Austin. Courtesy photo by Rick Kern / Getty Images for Sony Pictures Entertainment

Well, I guess this is a good one to end on. So, “Caught Stealing” is set in New York. Darren, you’re from the East Coast. You, Austin, are from California – so is your character. What do you make of being here in Texas and promoting the film? I saw you did get your barbecue.

Austin Butler: Well, my grandfather… I should have asked beforehand. I forgot what part of Texas he was born in, but my grandfather, my dad’s dad, was born in Texas. That counts. He was born in Texas and then he moved to Arizona.

He lives in Arizona now but he was born here and his dad was also Texas, and so that’s my great grandfather, and he was a butcher and then he got a bunch of cattle.

Darren Aronofsky: Is that why you got the name?

Austin Butler: I think, I mean it’s around there somewhere. But they were all cowboys.

So you’re wearing the boots with like, legacy. 

Austin Butler: It’s for grandpa. For real horseback riding.

What would you say? Anything to add to that?

Darren Aronofsky: Connection to Texas?

Well, or just, you know, what do you make of being here and promoting film? It feels like we’re getting filmmakers through here.

Darren Aronofsky: Well, Austin’s become such a cultural center. It’s like a big cultural point since the blowup of South by Southwest and the explosion of the “McConaughey Effect.”

They suggested it because, I think, they love the play with the lead actor, but I did not resist at all. I love coming down here whenever I can.

If you found the reporting above valuable, please consider making a donation to support it here. Your gift helps pay for everything you find on texasstandard.org and KUT.org. Thanks for donating today.