Sharon Stone and Austin Butler Explain Their 'Special Connection': 'I Really Believe in Him'

"I know what his journey and destiny looks like and I want to make sure he's cool," Stone said at the premiere of Butler's film 'The Bikeriders'

Sharon Stone has a soft spot for Austin Butler.

At the Los Angeles premiere of the Elvis star's new film The Bikeriders on June 17, both Stone, 66, and Butler, 32, opened up about their unexpected "special connection."

"I really adore Austin," Stone told Entertainment Tonight on the red carpet at TCL Theatre.

"I think he's such a great kid and I love the way he's coming on in his career," the actress added. "I think it's wonderful."

Related: Sharon Stone Mixes Cheetah Speed with Biker Look at The Bikeriders Premiere 

Butler also opened up about his friendship with the Basic Instinct star, whom he said he met at Cannes Film Festival in 2022. "We have a really special connection, because when Elvis premiered in Cannes, she was sitting right in front of me," he told the outlet.

Recalling the moment, which launched Butler to new levels of fame, Stone told ET, "I have to say, I've been in a lot of premieres, I've been to a lot of premieres in Cannes, and this is the only time I saw what happened to me happen to someone else."

"It was so incredible to witness this happen to another person, and I just wanted to make sure that he had someone that he knew he could count on no matter what," she said, adding that it's "not easy to hold onto the rocket."

Related: Tom Hardy and Austin Butler Form a Violent Biker Gang in ‘The Bikeriders’ Trailer

Discussing the star quality that aided Butler's rise to stardom, the actress told the outlet, "This thing happens to you, it's a very specific thing and it's a light that comes on in you and others see it and people appreciate it."

"At the same time, people envy it and they can become very cruel about it and it's a hard thing to walk with grace," she added. "And it's really important that you walk it with honesty and sincerity."

So, in the same way her The Specialist costar Sylvester Stallone gave her guidance in her early days as a star — which "really meant the world" to her — Stone has kept in touch with Butler since their paths first crossed at Cannes, the actors explained.

"I really do, I love that kid, and I really believe in him," she added of the Bikeriders star. "I know what his journey and destiny looks like and I want to make sure he's cool."

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Along with Stone, Butler was joined at the June 17 premiere by costars Jodie Comer and Tom Hardy.

Also in attendance were supporting cast members Mike Faist and Norman Reedus, who snapped photos with the Elvis actor, as well as Michael Shannon.

Written and directed by Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter), The Bikeriders is based on a 1968 photo book about a Chicago motorcycle club from photographer and filmmaker Danny Lyon.

It follows the story of Kathy (Comer), who falls in love with Benny (Butler), a member of a midwestern motorcycle gang called the Vandals headed by mysterious leader Johnny (Hardy).

As the club begins to gain notoriety and becomes more and more violent, Butler’s Benny must choose between his loyalty to the club and his love for Kathy.

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The Bikeriders releases in theaters on Friday, June 21.

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