Austin Butler’s The Bikeriders Prep Was Challenging Due to Dune: Part Two

In 2022, Austin Butler faced the challenges of preparing for two movies — The Bikeriders and Dune: Part Two — at once. With filming for Dune 2 up first, Butler knew he had to prep for The Bikeriders before diving headfirst into Frank Herbert’s novel.

“I knew that I was going to do both films before I started Dune, but I had to figure out how to front-load the prep on Bikeriders and start training on a motorcycle,” Butler said. “So I was getting used to those old motorcycles as I was doing the knife training and stuff for Dune, and then I put Bikeriders on hold for a bit as I got closer to Dune.”

After completing the first half of his work on Dune 2, Butler had a minor break. While most actors might use the time to rest, Butler went right back to work on The Bikeriders.

“I got really invested in that, and then my schedule on Dune allowed me to come back to the States for two weeks between blocks,” Butler told The Hollywood Reporter. “I shot for a month, and then I had two weeks off, and then I shot [Dune] for another month. So, during those two weeks off, I went and did motorcycle training, and then I went back to Dune. So once I got into filming [The Bikeriders], I felt that I had a grasp on that just to make it easier for us.”

As soon as his time on Dune: Part Two ended, Butler flew from Budapest to Cincinnati to film The Bikeriders.

What to Expect in The Bikeriders?

The Bikeriders cast includes Butler as Benny, Jodie Comer as Kathy, and Tom Hardy as Johnny. Michael Shannon, Mike Faist, and Norman Reedus also star.

The official synopsis from Focus Features: “The Bikeriders captures a rebellious time in America when the culture and people were changing. After a chance encounter at a local bar, strong-willed Kathy (Jodie Comer) is inextricably drawn to Benny (Austin Butler), the newest member of Midwestern motorcycle club, the Vandals led by the enigmatic Johnny (Tom Hardy). Much like the country around it, the club begins to evolve, transforming from a gathering place for local outsiders into a dangerous underworld of violence, forcing Benny to choose between Kathy and his loyalty to the club.”

The Bikeriders is written and directed by Jeff Nichols. The movie is based on Danny Lyon’s 1967 photo book of the same name. Producers include Sarah Green, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, and Arnon Milchan.

From Focus Features, The Bikeriders arrives in theaters on June 21, 2024.