Gerard Butler walked the red carpet last night for his new film, Law Abiding Citizen. He got a new haircut, and he’s either lost some weight or invested in a man-girdle. (Hint: I’m thinking man-girdle.) Is it just me, or does he look about ten years younger in these pictures? As compared to how he’s been looking in recent “candid” shots with his moobs hanging out. Is it Botox? Or did he just get a rejuvenating facial? Or is it just great lighting? We’ll never know. (Hint: Botox.) I can’t say I care for the grey suit with black lapels, paired with a black shirt. It’s a very “Budget Vegas” look. Overall, he looks like a constipated, Botoxed Atlantic City pit boss.

Law Abiding Citizen isn’t out until mid-October, but doesn’t it feel like Gerard’s been on the never-ending press tour? I love the big, dumb, horny, womanizing lug, but I’ve gotten a little exhausted with my guy. For the past week I’ve been all about Clive Owen – I needed a little temporary change there for a bit. Perhaps I’ve grown a little tired of Gerard because Law Abiding Citizen is the third film he’s had out in three months. He’s no Megan Fox, but his role as my imaginary boyfriend might be coming to an imaginary end. He’s kind of annoying in this little interview too – he’s comparing his character to Hannibal Lecter and Kevin Spacey’s character in Se7en:

Gerard Butler dumps his heroic persona for a walk on the wild side in the revenge thriller “Law Abiding Citizen.” While the F. Gary Gray film might make the ACLU shudder, preview audiences have been howling their appreciation often in favor of Butler’s psychopathic anti-hero.

“This is the Hannibal Lecter role. It’s Kevin Spacey in ‘Se7en,’ ” says Butler, the Scottish actor best known for playing King Leonidas in “300.”

Of course, there’s a reason for the rage of Butler’s character. You’d be riled up if your wife and family had been brutally murdered in a home invasion and the court system let one of the killers off with a slap on the wrist. But Butler’s guy isn’t just after an eye for an eye; he’s a crazed vigilante bent on taking down the entire legal system.

This is Butler’s first foray into producing, and he not only worked on the Kurt Wimmer script but was willing to forgo his original intention to play the hero to get the movie made.

“We were having a hard time finding the right actor for the role,” he said. Jamie Foxx was interested, but only in the district attorney role.

“ ‘I’ll swap,’ ” Butler said. “He said, ‘Yes,’ at which point I went ‘Oh … I wish I hadn’t said it.’“

Butler wound up working with an acting coach for the first time on a movie, and now seems happy about his psycho turn. “I’m proud of it.”

[From the Los Angeles Times]

Despite what I consider a totally ridiculous comparison to two of the great film villains or all time, I’m actually looking forward to seeing Law Abiding Citizen. I hope Gerard pulls it together for the media tour. His last film, Gamer, sucked it hard at the box office. Gamer has been out for four weeks, and has only grossed $18 million. Ouch. Fortunately, The Ugly Truth has grossed over $100 million worldwide, so Gerard is still welcome in Hollywood – especially if Law Abiding Citizen does well.

In one other piece of Gerard Butler news, he spoke to People about his Ugly Truth costar Katherine Heigl, and how he thinks she’ll be a great mom. He’s totally effusive, which makes my crush come back. I kind of think Gerard is the only costar Katherine has ever had who totally loves and adores her. Gerard said: “She will be an amazing mom… She’s incredibly responsible, smart and loving. This is a huge deal for her and she’s going to take to it like a duck to water. She mothered me. Anytime I was feeling under the weather or was having a hard day, that’s when she was amazing. She would always come and check on me. I think she’s naturally a caretaker in the best way. It’s great that she did [adopted a special needs baby]. It’s just a testament to her character and to her personality that she went out of her way to do that. It’s a beautiful thing.” Aw… he’s so sweet. My crush is back, y’all. Damn it. Poor Clive. Pushed to the side, fantasy-wise, AGAIN.

Here’s Gerard Butler at The 13th Annual UrbanWorld Film Festival Premiere of ‘ Law Abiding Citizen’ in New York City last night. Images thanks to WENN.com .