Austin Butler Reveals His Audition for a Role in The Hunger Games
Austin Butler, the actor who has recently gained widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis,” has shared an interesting tidbit from his early career. In a recent interview with BuzzFeed Celeb, Butler revealed that he auditioned for the role of Peeta Mellark in the 2012 blockbuster “The Hunger Games.” However, he didn’t get the part and didn’t even receive a callback.
“I auditioned for The Hunger Games, and I didn’t get it at all. I don’t even think I got a callback. What’s the character, Peeta?” Butler shared. Despite the disappointment, Butler had nothing but praise for Josh Hutcherson, who ultimately landed the role. “He’s great,” Butler added, acknowledging Hutcherson’s performance alongside Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth.
Butler’s journey in the entertainment industry has been marked by both setbacks and triumphs. While he didn’t land the role of Peeta, his perseverance eventually paid off. In a February 2023 interview with Variety, Butler detailed the grueling five-month process he underwent to secure the titular role in “Elvis.” “From the start, I knew Baz doesn’t just do auditions, he does workshops,” Butler recalled. “So, I knew it would be a process. I was able to keep my head down and concentrate on the work and try not to get too invested in thinking of it as my part.”
The actor’s dedication to his craft was evident as he worked with dialect, movement, and singing coaches for months just to audition for “Elvis.” His hard work culminated in a spontaneous video of himself singing Elvis’ song “Unchained Melody” in a bathrobe, which ultimately impressed Luhrmann and secured him the role. “I just feel so fortunate,” Butler said of starring in the film, which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in 2023.
Reflecting on his career, Butler emphasized the importance of resilience in the face of rejection. “You get told ‘no’ so many times,” he explained. “And early on someone told me something that really helped. They said, ‘It’s a numbers game. Prepare to go to 100 auditions before you book one.'”
Butler’s journey is a testament to the unpredictable nature of the entertainment industry. While he missed out on “The Hunger Games,” he has since landed significant roles in other high-profile projects. For instance, he was in the running for a role in “Top Gun: Maverick” but ultimately chose to work with Quentin Tarantino on “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.” “I ended up having to choose between going to the screen test for Top Gun: Maverick or saying yes to Quentin Tarantino,” Butler admitted during a conversation with Josh Horowitz for his Happy Sad Confused podcast. “I’d already met with him, so I did that,” he said of his decision to work with Tarantino, which resulted in his role as Charles Watson in the 2019 film.
Despite the missed opportunity to star alongside Tom Cruise in “Top Gun: Maverick,” Butler’s career has continued to soar. He recently starred in Apple TV+’s “Masters of the Air,” where he plays pilot Major Gale Cleven, a.k.a. Buck. The series, produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, follows the U.S. Air Force’s 100th Bomb Group as they undertake perilous bombing raids over Nazi Germany.
At the Los Angeles premiere of “Masters of the Air,” Butler expressed his enthusiasm for the project and his admiration for the producers. “He approaches everything with such care and kindness and he does so much research and is just constantly reading about this period,” Butler said of Hanks. The actor also revealed that he would love to learn to fly in real life, a skill he picked up while filming the series during the pandemic.
Butler’s journey from auditioning for “The Hunger Games” to starring in critically acclaimed films and series is a testament to his talent and perseverance. His story serves as an inspiration to aspiring actors, reminding them that rejection is often just a stepping stone to greater opportunities.
Source: BuzzFeed Celeb, Variety, Happy Sad Confused Podcast, PEOPLE
