Austin Butler to Play Disgraced Cyclist Lance Armstrong in Upcoming Biopic

The 'Elvis' star will portray the controversial athlete who was stripped of his Tour de France titles.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Austin Butler, known for his Oscar-nominated performance as Elvis Presley, has been cast to play disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong in an upcoming biopic. The film will chronicle Armstrong's rise to fame as the most celebrated cyclist in history, winning the Tour de France seven times, and his subsequent downfall after admitting to doping throughout his career. The biopic will be directed by Edward Berger and written by Zach Baylin.

Why it matters

This biopic will provide a deep dive into one of the biggest scandals in sports history, exploring the motivations and consequences of Armstrong's doping and the impact it had on his legacy and the cycling community. It also marks another high-profile biopic role for Butler, who is quickly establishing himself as a go-to actor for portraying famous figures.

The details

The film will be produced by Scott Stuber, who has been working to secure Armstrong's life rights for some time. This will be the first time Armstrong has signed off on a movie about his life, and he plans to be involved in the development process, though he will not have a producing credit. The biopic will aim to tell the full story, including Armstrong's cancer survival, the formation of his Livestrong Foundation, and his ultimate confession to Oprah Winfrey about his extensive doping.

  • In 2013, Armstrong confessed in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that he had used banned performance-enhancing drugs and blood transfusions throughout his cycling career.
  • Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned from the sport for life in the wake of the doping scandal.

The players

Austin Butler

An American actor who is set to portray disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong in an upcoming biopic. Butler recently received an Oscar nomination for his performance as Elvis Presley in the film 'Elvis'.

Lance Armstrong

A former professional cyclist who was once considered the most celebrated cyclist in history, winning the Tour de France seven times. Armstrong was later stripped of his titles and banned from the sport after admitting to extensive doping throughout his career.

Edward Berger

The director who will helm the upcoming Lance Armstrong biopic starring Austin Butler.

Zach Baylin

The screenwriter who is penning the script for the Lance Armstrong biopic.

Scott Stuber

The producer who has been working to secure the life rights for the Lance Armstrong biopic and will produce the film.

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What they’re saying

“I view this situation as one big lie that I repeated a lot of times. I know the truth. The truth isn't what was out there. The truth isn't what I said. I'm a flawed character, as I well know. All the fault and all the blame here falls on me.”

— Lance Armstrong (Oprah Winfrey interview)

What’s next

The film is currently in development, with no set release date announced yet. As the project moves forward, more details about the casting, production, and release timeline are expected to be revealed.

The takeaway

This biopic will provide a comprehensive look at one of the most high-profile scandals in sports history, exploring the rise and fall of Lance Armstrong and the lasting impact of his doping confession. The casting of Austin Butler, fresh off his acclaimed performance as Elvis Presley, further underscores the significance of this project in chronicling a complex and controversial figure.