Gerard Butler's dramatic weight loss for surfer movie 'Mavericks'

Actor Gerard Butler is looking quite svelte these days and he tells People it's because of the new movie he's filming, "Mavericks," in which Butler plays surfer Rick "Frosty" Hesson, a mentor to surfing great Jay Moriarity, who sets out to conquer the Northern California waves called the Mavericks.

"I'm prepping for a surf movie. I'm surfing every day for 'Mavericks,'" says Butler.

He tells E! that his workout regimen now includes the surfing, plus cardio and yoga, which keeps him in shape but leaner more than bulky. He certainly isn't the muscle-bound "300" star that first made him famous, but we think we like the lean Butler. He's pictured above, left, Sept. 13 in New York for the screening of "Machine Gun Preacher." Contrast that with the middle shot from two years ago and the far right shot from 2007.

What do you think, Pop2it readers? Which Gerard is your favorite?