Hunger Games Rejection: Which Role Did This Star Miss Out On 15 Years Ago?

By 2024, Austin Butler disclosed that he had unsuccessfully auditioned for the male lead in “The Hunger Games,” mentioning that he didn’t even receive a callback.

In a video interview for BuzzFeed Celeb (via The Independent), conducted while promoting the film “The Bikeriders” alongside his co-star Jodie Comer, Butler was asked about a role that would surprise people to learn he had auditioned for.

The actor, famous for his portrayal of Elvis, responded, “I auditioned for ‘The Hunger Games,’ and I didn’t get it. I don’t even think I got a callback.“

“Their loss, Austin,” joked Jodie Comer.

The role of Peeta Mellark in the dystopian trilogy eventually went to Josh Hutcherson, who starred alongside Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth. Austin Butler commended Hutcherson’s performance, calling him “excellent” for the part.

Jodie Comer also revealed she had auditioned for “Mamma Mia! 2” at the same time as for “Killing Eve,” the series that brought her fame.

Josh Hutcherson: The Clear Choice

According to a 2011 report by the Hollywood Reporter, other actors considered for the role of Peeta included Evan Peters, Lucas Till, Hunter Parrish, and Alexander Ludwig, who was ultimately cast as Cato, the rival of Peeta and Katniss in “The Hunger Games.” However, in a 2022 interview with the Hollywood Reporter, director Gary Ross stated that the decision was straightforward: “Josh was perfect… honestly, it was an easy choice for me.“

Josh Hutcherson, now 33, was a popular child actor, known for his roles in “Bridge to Terabithia,” “Firehouse Dog,” and “Little Manhattan.” After “The Hunger Games,” he shifted towards independent cinema, with films like “The Disaster Artist” (2017) by A24, the war drama “Across the River and Into the Trees” (2022), and the sci-fi thriller “57 Seconds” (2023). Recently, he appeared in “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” (2025), the HBO comedy series “I Love LA” (2025), and “The Beekeeper” (2024).

Austin Butler also became well-known at a young age with his appearances in teen shows “Zoey 101,” “Hannah Montana,” “iCarly,” and “Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide.” Since then, he has gained widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Elvis in Baz Luhrmann’s biopic “Elvis,” earning an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, and in “Dune: Part Two” by Denis Villeneuve, as well as the mini-series “Masters of the Air,” produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, and aired on Apple TV+.

The actor, now highly sought-after, will soon star in the crime drama “Enemies” directed by Henry Dunham, alongside Jeremy Allen White. Among his many upcoming projects, he will play the lead in the biopic about Lance Armstrong directed by Edward Berger.

The “Hunger Games” saga is available for streaming on Prime Video.

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