Before he stepped into a pair of iconic blue suede shoes, Austin Butler was romancing a young Carrie Bradshaw.
And while it's been a decade since Austin starred opposite AnnaSophia Robb on Sex and the City prequel series The Carrie Diaries, it's an experience he looks back at fondly.
"Carrie Diaries for me was a time where I moved to New York for the first time," Austin exclusively told E! News' Will Marfuggi. "I was surrounded by people that I love to be around, I learned a lot and I was falling in love with that city and so I look back with a lot of nostalgia."
In fact, the 32-year-old—who played Sebastian Kydd in the The CW series—believes playing the iconic budding writer's love interest allowed him to be really immersed in the moment.
"You have these moments in time where you're surrounded by certain people or you're in a particular environment and then after a while that time doesn't exist anymore," he continued. "And then you're just left with that feeling of nostalgia." (For more from Austin and his The Bikeriders costars, tune into E! News tonight, June 10).
For her part, AnnaSophia previously echoed Austin's sentiments on the series, which ended in 2014 after two seasons. And when it came to watching her former costar skyrocket to fame with Elvis and even earn his first Oscar nomination, the "extremely proud" Bridge to Terabithia actress never doubted her friend's success.
"It was a joy working on that set," AnnaSophia recalled to E! News in 2022. "We all knew Austin would be a super star when we worked with him."
And for fans who just can't help but wonder what Austin has in store next, he's set to star in Jeff Nichols' The Bikeriders. In the film, which hits theaters June 21, Austin will play heartthrob motorcycle gang member Benny, and even had to learn how to ride a vintage bike for the role. As for what that experience was like?
"I felt comfortable fairly quickly," Austin noted of riding the vintage bikes used in the film. "I never know with myself if I'm just delusional or if I'm actually safe in those moments because I just had this belief that I was going to be OK and I felt very comfortable."
Plus, once the cast—which also includes Jodie Comer and Tom Hardy—was ready to ride together, Austin had one thing to say about riding in a pack: "It's the greatest feeling"
The Bikeriders is in theaters Friday, June 21.