Austin Butler: ‘I Auditioned’ for ‘The Hunger Games’ to Play Peeta and ‘I Don’t Even Think I Got a Call Back’
variety.comZack Sharf Digital News Director Austin Butler revealed in a video interview with BuzzFeed that he unsuccessfully auditioned to play Peeta in “The Hunger Games” franchise.
The role ultimately went to Josh Hutcherson, who starred in four “Hunger Games” movies between 2012 and 2015 opposite Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss and Liam Hemsworth as Gale.
The franchise turned the three actors into global stars. “I auditioned for ‘The Hunger Games’ and I didn’t get it at all,” Butler said. “I don’t even think I got a call back, what’s the character, Peeta?
Josh Hutcherson got that, he’s great.” Butler was joined in the BuzzFeed video interview by his “The Bikeriders” co-star Jodie Comer, who revealed she has also missed out on a big franchise: “I auditioned for ‘Mamma Mia!’ That was a time, That was also when I was auditioning for ‘Killing Eve’ as well.” At the time of the first “Hunger Games'” movie’s production, Butler was best known for his stints on various Disney Channel and Nickelodeon projects such “Zoey 101,” “iCarly” and “Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure.” He missed out on “The Hunger Games” but did get cast around the same time in The CW’s “Sex and the City” prequel series “The Carrie Diaries.” He’d get his franchise blockbuster years later courtesy of this year’s “Dune: Part Two.” As far “The Hunger Games,” the film franchise continues to live on.
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