2022 was a successful year for Austin Butler, as he not only starred in the Oscar-nominated Elvis but also got two prestigious offers to star in Tom Cruise and Quentin Tarantino’s projects. While it was indeed a major dilemma for the actor to choose between Cruise and Tarantino, he was entirely sure about his decision. 

According to Austin Butler, he had always wanted to work with Quentin Tarantino. Therefore, after he was approached by the acclaimed filmmaker with Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, Butler was sure that he wasn’t going to let a Tom Cruise blockbuster distract him from his dream collaboration. 

Also read: Masters of the Air: Austin Butler Landed Steven Spielberg’s World War 2 Story After Tom Hanks Grew Concerned About Actor’s Mental Health

Austin Butler Was Approached With Two Prestigious Projects 

Austin Butler has come a long way in his career since his Oscar-nominated titular role in the critically acclaimed 2022 biopic Elvis. Ever since then, the actor has starred in several renowned projects like that of Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg’s Apple TV+ series Masters of the Air. 

But over time, Austin Butler had to make some difficult choices in his career to move ahead with his fame. Appearing on the Happy Sad Confused podcast (via PEOPLE) to promote his Apple TV+ series, the actor shared one of his career’s greatest dilemmas while confirming that he was in the running to star opposite Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick.

Also read: “The G force it bent my spine”: Even the Action God Tom Cruise Found Himself in an Ugly Spot in His First Ride in a Fighter Jet

Apparently, Austin Butler’s career’s greatest dilemma was surrounding Tom Cruise’s blockbuster and another acclaimed opportunity offered by Quentin Tarantino. The actor discussed how he was approached with projects from the two renowned personalities before Elvis turned him into a global icon. 

Austin Butler Chose Quentin Tarantino Over Tom Cruise’s Blockbuster 

Sharing the dilemma he faced after being approached with a Tom Cruise and Quentin Tarantino project at the same time, Austin Butler revealed his choice. The actor noted how he had to choose between Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick and Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. Eventually, Butler admitted to going with Tarantino’s film. 

“I ended up having to choose between going to the screen test for ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ or saying yes to Quentin Tarantino. I’d already met with [Tarantino], so I did that.” 

Also read: Kurt Russell’s Flimsy Mistake on a Quentin Tarantino Set Forever Changed 1 Aspect of Hollywood — And Not For the Better

Opening up about how he had waited to work with Quentin Tarantino “for so long”, Austin Butler mentioned choosing the Oscar-winning director over Tom Cruise. Evidently, Butler was sure about his decision from the very beginning. He was too eager to work with Tarantino, to let Cruise’s blockbuster distract him from his dream collaboration. 

Thus, eventually, he went on to play Charles Manson cult member Charles Watson in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. Choosing Tarantino’s film was indeed a smart decision for Austin Butler as eventually casting director Denise Chamian informed that the Top Gun team ultimately found Butler too young for the role of Rooster. 

“I felt so passionate about Austin. Ultimately, his audition was shown to Tom and all the filmmakers. They agreed he had something and they were happy to know him, but they thought he was too young.” Chamian told Variety. 

Therefore, if Austin Butler had weighed in on Tom Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick, he would have not only lost Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood but would have ultimately lost the opportunity in Top Gun as well.