Austin Butler recently shared an intriguing tidbit about his career in a Buzzfeed interview with his Bikeriders co-star Jodie Comer. The actor, known for his role in the film Elvis, revealed that he auditioned for the role of Peeta Mellark in the blockbuster movie series The Hunger Games but did not land the part.
“I auditioned for The Hunger Games and I didn’t get it at all,” Butler said, adding that he doesn’t even recall getting a callback. He specifically auditioned for the role of Peeta Mellark, the male tribute from District 12 who competes alongside Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence. “I don’t even think I got a call back; what’s the character, Peeta? Josh Hutcherson got that; he’s great,” Butler added.
Josh Hutcherson ultimately secured the role of Peeta and starred alongside Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth in the four Hunger Games films. The franchise catapulted the trio to international stardom.
Jodie Comer, Butler’s co-star in The Bikeriders, also shared her own audition story during the interview. She revealed that she auditioned for Mamma Mia! around the same time she was trying out for Killing Eve, the role that eventually brought her widespread acclaim.
Reflecting on the casting process for The Hunger Games, director Gary Ross told The Hollywood Reporter, “Honestly, I had a real sense of who I wanted before the auditions, but because it was a huge franchise the studio wanted everyone to read, which was fine. It was fun, actually. Jennifer blew the doors off the place. Josh was pitch-perfect. I had no idea that Liam wasn’t American until I talked to him when the reading was over. They were all just great. These were honestly easy decisions for me.”
Although the final film in The Hunger Games series was released in 2015, the franchise has seen a revival. Last year, Lionsgate released a prequel titled The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, starring Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler. The film, adapted from a novel by Suzanne Collins, explores the early years of Coriolanus Snow, who later becomes the tyrannical president of Panem, a role originally portrayed by Donald Sutherland.
Earlier this month, Lionsgate announced plans for another Hunger Games film, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, based on Collins’ new novel. This story is set 24 years before the events of the original series and focuses on the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. The victor of this particular Games was Haymitch Abernathy, a character played by Woody Harrelson in the original films.
“The Second Quarter Quell is legendary and looms large over the history of the Games, even into the time of Katniss Everdeen a quarter-century later. Like fans around the globe, we are eagerly anticipating this exciting return to Panem,” said Adam Fogelson, head of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, in a statement.
Francis Lawrence, who directed three of the original Hunger Games films, is in talks to direct the new adaptation. He will collaborate with screenwriter Michael Arndt and producer Nina Jacobson, who have been integral to the franchise’s success. The original four films grossed a staggering $3.3 billion at the box office.
Scholastic is set to publish Sunrise on the Reaping in print, digital, and audio formats in North America and other English-speaking territories on March 18, 2025. Lionsgate has scheduled a wide theatrical release for the film on November 20, 2026.
Austin Butler’s revelation about his failed audition for The Hunger Games adds an interesting layer to the history of the franchise. While he didn’t land the role of Peeta Mellark, Butler has since found success in other projects, including his critically acclaimed performance in Elvis, which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in 2023.
Reflecting on his career, Butler shared that he doesn’t view unsuccessful auditions as wasted opportunities. “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 in the entertainment industry serves as a reminder that persistence and resilience are key. Despite not landing the role of Peeta, he has continued to build a successful career, demonstrating that every audition, whether successful or not, is a step forward.
Source: Buzzfeed, The Hollywood Reporter
