In a shocking revelation that highlights the physical extremes actors sometimes endure for their art, Austin Butler has disclosed he was struck with a temporary bout of blindness during the production of the highly anticipated film, The Bikeriders.
The incident occurred not during a high-octane stunt, but in a more mundane, yet intense, setting: a smoky bar scene. Butler, who portrays the character Benny, a member of a 1960s Midwest motorcycle club, described the frightening moment in a recent interview.
The Price of Authenticity
"We were in this bar and it was so smoky, and we’d been shooting for so long, and my eyes—I woke up the next day and my eyes felt like they had gravel in them," the actor recounted. The discomfort quickly escalated into something far more serious. "I couldn't see. I couldn't open my eyes for, like, two days."
Butler was subsequently diagnosed with an eye infection, a direct result of the prolonged exposure to the atmospheric smoke used on set to create a period-authentic vibe. His commitment to the role meant he powered through the discomfort until his body forced him to stop.
A Stellar Cast and a Gripping Premise
The Bikeriders, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jeff Nichols, boasts an impressive ensemble cast. Butler stars alongside the formidable Tom Hardy, who plays the gang's leader, Johnny, and Jodie Comer as Kathy, a woman who becomes fascinated by the club's rebellious lifestyle.
The film is inspired by Danny Lyon's seminal 1967 photobook of the same name, which documented the lives of the Outlaws MC, a real Chicago motorcycle club. It explores the rise and eventual evolution of a fictional gang, examining themes of brotherhood, rebellion, and the changing American landscape.
Butler's temporary blindness serves as a stark reminder of the unseen challenges and very real physical risks involved in filmmaking, even in scenes that appear deceptively simple to the audience.
