Austin Butler Reveals He Auditioned for Key Hunger Games Role

Austin Butler was up for a role in the original Hunger Games film, but the odds were not in his favor. In an interview with Buzzfeed, Butler revealed he auditioned for the role of Peeta Mellark, but failed to win over producers. Josh Hutcherson won the role, appearing in the four original Hunger Games films.

While promoting his new film The Bikeriders with co-star Jodie Comer, Butler discussed his career, including his recent success with roles including playing the King of Rock and Roll in Elvis and the terrifying villain in Dune Part II. When asked about roles he didn’t get, Butler revealed his Hunger Games audition, which didn’t go the way he hoped. He did, however, have some kind words for the actor that beat him out for the role:

I auditioned for The Hunger Games and I didn’t get it at all. I don’t even think I got a call back. What’s the character, Peeta? Josh Hutcherson got that; he’s great.

The Hunger Games

Summary

A science fiction film series based on the novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins. The four installment franchise takes place in a dystopian post-apocalyptic future in the nation of Panem, featuring the protagonist, Katniss Everdeen as she tries to stop The Hunger Games. Part twisted entertainment, part government intimidation tactic, the Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which “Tributes” must fight with one another until one survivor remains.

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Hutcherson’s Peeta was the male tribute for District 12 in the first Hunger Games film, fighting alongside Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen. The two eventually fell in love as they fought against the corrupt President Snow (Donald Sutherland) and the armies of Panem in the dystopian sci-fi action film series. You can view Butler’s comments on his audition for the role at the 5:20 mark in the video below.

While The Hunger Games made Hutcherson a worldwide star when the film was released in 2012, it took Butler a few more years before he became a household name. At the time, Butler had built up a solid resume, mostly in television, beginning with a small role in an episode of Hannah Montana in 2006. A string of minor roles (credited and uncredited) followed, mostly in Disney and Nickelodeon shows. They included Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide, iCarly, Zoey 101, and The Wizards of Waverly Place. Recurring roles in the series The Carrie Diaries, Switched at Birth, and Arrow eventually led to film roles and his shot at stardom.

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Austin Butler’s Breakthrough Year and Oscar Nomination

Although he wasn’t chosen to join The Hunger Games cast, his success in recent years more than made up for it. 2019 became his breakthrough year, beginning with a role in Jim Jarmusch’s zombie comedy The Dead Don’t Die. In July of the year, he had the memorable role of Tex Watson in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood, and his career took off.

Butler’s next role changed his life. Baz Luhrmann cast him in the lead role in 2022’s Elvis, as the director was won over by Butler’s audition tape, in which he delivered a powerful rendition of “Unchained Melody.” Butler was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor, and he became one of the most in-demand actors in Hollywood.

Butler followed that with roles in Dune Part II (as Feyd-Rautha) and the Apple TV+ series Masters of the Air. He has been rumored to be attached to a number of high-profile films in development, including Michael Mann’s anticipated sequel Heat 2 and the Pirates of the Caribbean reboot.