'Caught' celebrating: Why Austin Butler, Zoë Kravitz and Darren Aronofsky were at the Double Down Saloon last night

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Early this morning, there was a little "Caught Stealing" reunion at the Double Down Saloon on Avenue A. 

Last fall, the place was transformed into Paul's Bar while crews filmed scenes for Darren Aronofsky's upcoming crime thriller. In the film, the lead character Hank — played by Austin Butler — works as a bartender there. 

There had already been some buzz among Double Down regulars that a special guest might show, so I stopped by to check it out.

Anyway, fittingly, the Double Down was the setting for Butler's 34th birthday celebration, where, around 12:30 a.m., he arrived with Aronofsky, co-star Zoë Kravitz, and a handful of friends and family.

Filmmaker Ari Aster was among the bday wishers...

Despite those in attendance, the cake was the star. Empire Cake crafted a frighteningly realistic cat cake of "Caught Stealing" co-star Tonic, who plays Bud — the feline who inadvertently immerses Hank into the criminal underworld. (BTW, you may recall Tonic's excellent turn in the 2019 version of "Pet Sematary.")

The "Caught Stealing" crew didn't linger too long at Double Down — more stops were waiting on their night/early morning out. 

The movie, filmed in part in the East Village, opens on Aug. 29.

'Caught Stealing' catches eyes with new poster

Poster courtesy of Sony 

After 347 posts on the filming of "Caught Stealing," we thought you might like to see the new poster. ⬆️

The black comedy-crime thriller from Darren Aronofsky (based on Charlie Huston's novel) is set (in part) in the late 1990s East Village. 

Austin Butler, playing an East Village bartender, stars alongside Bad Bunny, Zoë Kravitz, Griffin Dunne, Matt Smith, Regina King, Liev Schreiber and Vincent D’Onofrio, among others. 

"Caught Stealing," set to hit theaters on Aug. 29, was filmed throughout the neighborhood this past fall.

No word yet if the film will have its own specialty popcorn bucket.

First look at the 'Caught Stealing' trailer, filmed partly in the East Village last fall

Photo via Sony Pictures 

Today, Sony dropped the first "Caught Stealing" trailer. 

The black comedy-crime thriller from Darren Aronofsky (based on Charlie Huston's novel) is set (in part) in the late 1990s East Village. 

Austin Butler, playing an East Village bartender, stars alongside Bad Bunny, Zoë Kravitz, Griffin Dunne, Matt Smith, Regina King, Liev Schreiber and Vincent D’Onofrio, among others. 

"Caught Stealing," set to hit theaters on Aug. 29, was filmed throughout the neighborhood this past fall.

Check out the trailer below... (you'll catch a glimpse of the Kim's Video set)...

   

The official plot: 

Hank Thompson (Austin Butler) was a high-school baseball phenom who can't play anymore, but everything else is going okay. He's got a great girl (Zoë Kravitz), tends bar at a New York dive, and his favorite team is making an underdog run at the pennant. 

When his punk-rock neighbor Russ (Matt Smith) asks him to take care of his cat for a few days, Hank suddenly finds himself caught in the middle of a motley crew of threatening gangsters. They all want a piece of him; the problem is he has no idea why. As Hank attempts to evade their ever-tightening grip, he's got to use all his hustle to stay alive long enough to find out…

The Butler did it!

Photo by Stacie Joy 

A curious flyer taped up outside Ben's Deli on Avenue B might look, at first glance, like a DIY attempt to identify a local thief — someone possibly swiping six-packs of White Claw or that Clarins you should of had delivered to the office.

But look closer, and it's clear this is something else entirely. The flyer is some sort of guerilla marketing campaign for "Caught Stealing," an upcoming crime thriller from Darren Aronofsky. The film stars Austin Butler — shown in character on the flyer — alongside Bad Bunny, Zoë Kravitz, Griffin Dunne, Matt Smith and Regina King. 

The film is set to hit theaters on Aug. 29 — the same date stamped on the flyer. 

As we previously reported, "Caught Stealing" was filmed extensively throughout the East Village last fall.

'Caught Stealing' slides into theaters this August

Pics from 2024 by Stacie Joy 

ICYMI: Sony announced that Darren Aronofsky's crime thriller "Caught Stealing" now has an Aug. 29 (2025!) release date, per the Hollywood trades. 

As we diligently noted, "Caught Stealing" was filmed throughout the neighborhood this past fall. 

There were multiple sightings of lead Austin Butler (below), whose character lived on the SW corner of Sixth Street and Avenue A. Also, on Avenue A, the Double Down Saloon subbed for Paul's Bar, the scene of a lot of action. (It was on Avenue B in the book.)

Charlie Huston adapted the screenplay from his 2004 book "Caught Stealing." The story finds Hank Thompson (Butler), a former baseball prodigy, now a binge-drinking bartender, being chased by a criminal element in the East Village of 2000. 

The cast includes Bad Bunny, Action Bronson, Vincent D’Onofrio, Zoë Kravitz, Liev Schreiber, Griffin Dunne, Matt Smith and Regina King. 

We're looking forward to seeing this because a) we read the book, b) we're curious to see the East Village as depicted in the film, and c) we generally really like Aronofsky's movies (and he also lives in the neighborhood).

'Caught' taking photos of Austin Butler's stand-in

Photos by Stacie Joy 

On Tuesday, crews for the Darren Aronofsky-helmed crime thriller "Caught Stealing" (aka "Chelsea Honeymoon") returned to the neighborhood to film at several locations, including at Quick Coin laundromat on Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street.

Here is lead actor Austin Butler in character on Oct. 2 on Sixth Street and Avenue A...

He was in the same outfit for the scenes this past week While Butler distracted the assembled paparazzi, we could focus more on his stand-in/lighting double, who was rockin' a similar slouchy yet dreamy orange-and-olive ensemble.

We spotted AB a little later entering the set...

Charlie Huston adapted the screenplay from his 2004 book "Caught Stealing." The story finds Hank Thompson (Butler), a former baseball prodigy, now a binge-drinking bartender, being chased by a criminal element in the East Village of 2000. 

The cast includes Zoë Kravitz, Regina King, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Bad Bunny, Griffin Dunne, Vincent D’Onofrio and Action Bronson.

Another chance to catch 'Caught Stealing' filming around the East Village

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Crews for the Darren Aronofsky-helmed crime thriller "Caught Stealing" (aka "Chelsea Honeymoon") will return to the neighborhood this week. 

We've seen fliers covering a pretty wide swath, from Cooper Square to Avenue B, for the filming taking place on Tuesday. So expect to see more late 1990s set dressing ... one confirmed location is the Quick Coin laundromat on Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street.

The laundromat will be closed for set dressing during the day tomorrow (open again after 5 p.m.) ... closed Tuesday... reopening Wednesday after 4 p.m.

Several weeks ago, workers were seen dating the laundromat to fit the late 1990s. However, there must have been a change in the production schedule, as the filming didn't take place.

Everything with the yellow caution tape was for the shoot. 

Charlie Huston adapted the screenplay from his 2004 book "Caught Stealing." The story finds Hank Thompson (Austin Butler), a former baseball prodigy, now a binge-drinking bartender, being chased by a criminal element in the late-1990s East Village. 

The cast includes Zoë Kravitz, Regina King, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Bad Bunny, Griffin Dunne, Vincent D’Onofrio and Action Bronson.

Previously.

Prop or not?: Looking at Avenue A during the 'Caught Stealing' shoot

Crews yesterday continued to undress parts of Avenue A after standing in for a late-1990s version of itself for the Darren Aronofsky-helmed crime thriller "Caught Stealing."

The Benny's Burritos signage was removed from its one-time home (RIP 2014) on the SW corner of Sixth Street and Avenue A, a main hub during the several evenings of filming.

At times, it was hard to distinguish between the props for the shoot and the everyday randomness you'd expect to find along Avenue A.

Here's a quick guide to help determine what was a prop or not.

Bikes in a bunch: PROP

Michigan football flag outside Offside on the NE corner of A and Sixth: NOT a prop

Burgeoning sewer collapse on A and Sixth: NOT a prop

Pigeons devouring the 50 pounds of bread someone dumps in the once-mucky tree pit: NOT a prop, obviously

Obey Giant wheat pastes on the side of Amor Y Amargo: PROPS

Canopy left atop the M14 stop between Fifth Street and Sixth Street: NOT a prop

A sketchy-looking casting notice for a Young Zendaya: NOT a prop (and actually legit) 

Stop Warehousing Apartments Flyers: PROPS

Stack of school desks of the SE corner of A and Sixth: PROPS (sadly)

Phone booth: PROP

Bikes locked up outside the Cherry Tavern: NOT SURE!

Unhoused encampment on Sixth near A: PROP

Building-wide tags on the NW corner of Avenue A and Second Street: NOT props

REVS COST tags on Sixth Street plus other tags: PROPS

Jesus Loves You ("Think About That") flyer: NOT a prop

Rather hunky-looking guy dressed as if he could either be the building's porter or a serial entrepreneur who incubates and invests in breakthrough fintech companies: Guy, NOT a prop (though an actor); Car, PROP

Sidewalk message: NOT a prop 

The Hairy Balls signage outside Key Food: NOT a prop

We haven't heard anything official... but we're guessing that we haven't seen the last of the "Caught Stealing" shoot. We've heard rumors (and seen evidence of) a Pyramid Club and Mars Bar redux.

As we've been reporting, "Caught Stealing," based on Charlie Huston's novel of the same name, features a cast that includes Austin Butler, Zoë Kravitz, Regina King, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Bad Bunny, Griffin Dunne, Vincent D’Onofrio and Action Bronson.