'Caught Stealing' star Austin Butler opens up about his most 'vulnerable' film yet

Austin Butler has played a Manson family killer, a COVID-era cult leader and the hip-shaking King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

But the former Disney Channel star turns in one of his most soul-baring performances yet in “Caught Stealing” (in theaters Aug. 29), a twisty New York crime caper from filmmaker Darren Aronofsky (“The Wrestler”). Butler portrays the charming ne'er-do-well Hank, an East Village bartender who loves his mom, baseball and girlfriend Yvonne (Zoë Kravitz).

But when his seedy neighbor, Russ (Matt Smith), skips town and leaves him with a key that unlocks unknown valuables, Hank becomes the unwitting target of bloodthirsty gangsters. Although the film is frequently droll and outrageous, it's also unexpectedly poignant at times, as Hank grapples with alcoholism, grief and a traumatic accident that dashed his athletic dreams.

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“Caught Stealing” initially intimidated Butler, 34, who last year disappeared into period drama “The Bikeriders” and sci-fi epic “Dune: Part Two.”