In Caught Stealing, the newest film from director Darren Aronofsky, a seedy guy named Russ (Matt Smith) asks his neighbor Hank (Austin Butler) to watch his cat for a few days while he’s out of town.
The cat is not only a handsome little fellow, he’s got a spiffy name: Bud.
The problem? Russ has seriously pissed off New York’s criminal element, and Hank is unaware a category five shitstorm is about to make landfall. No matter how many beatings he takes from gangsters who mistake him for his neighbor, the Lower East Side bartender takes his cat-sitting duties seriously.
“Bud remains central to the action,” the New York Times notes. “His skeptical gazes punctuate scenes and his presence endears the audience to Hank, who goes out of his way to protect the somewhat ornery creature when the going gets rough.”
Alas, Caught Stealing‘s Bud is not our Bud, although that’s probably for the better. Our Bud would drive the on-set catering crew mad with his turkey-related demands, and he’d run off camera to hide behind my legs during fight scenes.
Instead, Bud is played by a pro, a cat named Tonic who has appeared in the remake of Stephen King’s Pet Sematary and the horror flick Thanksgiving.
Aronofsky tells the Times about the on-set cat wrangling, noting felines are usually “not very notorious for their collaboration skills.”
Still, Charlie Huston, who wrote the book the movie’s based on as well as the screenplay, said the team didn’t take any shortcuts with Bud.
“I don’t feel like we made it as easy for ourselves as some people would have wanted,” Huston told the Times. “I remember a lot of conversations about, ‘Do we have to have the [expletive] cat in this scene?’”
The fact that they did keep him squarely in the action is testament to Tonic. Before the little guy got the role, the team had it narrowed down to him and one other cat. Tonic made the decision easy for them.
“It was just such a no-brainer because the other cat was fine, but Tonic was such a rock star on Day 1 and that was without prep,” Huston said.
Tonic is so accustomed to performing in live events and movie appearances, he was ready to show off his skills — and to get his paws on his rewards.
“The second he came out of his crate,” trainer Melissa Millett said, “he looked like he thought he was the king of the world and he was ready for all the chicken.”
Pain In The Bud 
Same cat in Pet Cemetary movie and poster? Yikes!! That cat scared me!!But i might see it a second time and will watch this movie.
LikeLike
He was adopted from a shelter before that movie, then trained, but he only played the living version of the cat. Another feline played the dead version because he was spookier and…less fluffy, I guess? Haha.
LikeLike
Not sure but i think they sprayed Tonic down with something to make him look disheveled. I will be able to see it this week but honestly prefer the 1989 version. And King, genius that he is, most likely named the cat Church for a reason. Saw a documentary on King. Does not go into details about the meaning of his books and movies. People have to decide what it means to them. With Churchs death and coming back as an evil cat to me it means you need to accept a pets death. King does not like cloning of animals. And we are most likely close to cloning humans which i think is insane.
LikeLike
Sounds like it’s “two paws up”
LikeLike
The plot summary reminds me of Keanu, except the drug dealers don’t steal the cat.
LikeLike
I also wondered why cemetary was spelled with an s. King said children near his home had a pet cemetary and put an s.
LikeLike
I’m not 100% on this, but I think in the original King novel, a kid made the sign marking the cemetery. It’s a kid’s handwriting on the cover of the book and movie.
LikeLike
Hm, so Tonic likes chicken and Bud likes turkey … they’re two of a kind!
Btw, Tonic looks like he has some Maine Coon in his blood line.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think so too…he’s a big, fluffy boy and appears to have that Maine Coon chill attitude.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmmmm….turkey and chicken, you say???? Sounds like mealtime most fowl!!
LikeLike
Tonic is a beautiful kitty. I hope this is his big break.
LikeLike
This is his third major movie…there are human actors who wish they had his career!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can’t wait to see this movie. Thanks for the heads up. PS: I hope Little Buddy got a plateful of Labor Day treats.😻
LikeLike