He continued, “My mom and his mother were my best friends. It was hard to imagine what it felt like for me losing my mom and best friend at this time in my life. That really brought me closer and gave me so much love and connection with him.

Austin was able to dedicate himself immediately after he accepted the role.

“[I]”I wallpapered my entire apartment with photos and a timeline of Elvis’s life,” he stated. “I was extremely grateful that the film and, to use a different word, the obsession with Elvis were able to fill my days. I felt that every day was an opportunity to be awake.