Austin (Elvis) Butler’s Transformation in ‘Saturday Night Live’ Promo
The Elvis star hosts the NBC series’ final 2022 episode, which also features musical guest Lizzo.
Austin Butler has a little less conversation and a little more mask-wearing in the first promo for his Saturday Night Live hosting debut.
The Elvis star, who plays key part in this year’s awards season, takes center stage at Studio 8H in the promotional footage released ahead of his Dec. 17 holiday episode, which is also the NBC comedy series’ final new installment of 2022.
Lizzo is the night’s musical guest and will be stepping in for previously announced performers the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who need to skip due to illness.
Butler’s SNL spot shows the actor slowly making his way through the historic studio, looking dapper as ever with his hair perfectly coiffed. “Here we go,” Butler confidently tells himself.
However, things quickly go awry as the host learns he needs to don a spooky green mask and Santa Claus hat to transform into Christmas goblin.
“Let’s do this,” he gamely replies.
Butler, 31, got his start as a child actor and is known for TV credits as The Shannara Chronicles and for film roles including The Dead Don’t Die and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
However, his breakout turn came this year with playing the cultural icon Elvis Presley in director Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis opposite Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker. This week, Butler was nominated for Critics Choice Award, which follows his People Choice win last week.
Butler is a frontrunner in the Oscar race for Best Actor.
He was praised by critics for his sexy stage moves are sexy and for capturing the dream-like and tragic paradox of the American Dream.
Saturday Night Live airs Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. on NBC.
