Austin Butler Talks 'Shannara Chronicles,' Road Trip with Vanessa Hudgens, & More for Just Jared Spotlight!

Austin Butler‘s new MTV series The Shannara Chronicles is premiering TONIGHT (January 5) on MTV, so let’s take a look back at the highlights from his Just Jared Spotlight from December!

Here is what the 24-year-old actor had to share with us:

On what attracted him to the role: “When I read the script and I first realized what Wil is going through, it reminded me a lot of myself, having to sometimes fake it until you make it. And that’s kind of what he does when he doesn’t know what he’s doing. And so even learning along the way, being out in New Zealand by myself and finding where the boy is inside of me and where the man is and growing into that, it was cool how art imitates life in that way.”

On skills he learned for the show: “I did a lot of sword fighting training out there. And I don’t get to show it off that much in this season. But I had done Kali as a kid, which is Filipino stick fighting. So I kind of have a background in it and I ended up learning how to do all these cool things. So maybe if we do another season, I’ll get to show those off a little bit more.”

On his recent road trip with girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens: “Oh it was amazing! We went from New York to LA. I got to meet so many unique people that I would have never gotten to meet otherwise. And I noticed that when I’m road tripping, I have the sense that it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. And I think it’s symbolic in a way and it teaches so many lessons to me just to carry in life. It’s just glorious.”

For more from Austin, visit JJSpotlight.com!