Austin Butler recently opened up about an audition that didn’t quite go as planned. The Elvis star revealed in a June 26th video for BuzzFeed Celeb that he tried out for a major role in the 2012 film The Hunger Games, but I didn’t get it at all. I don’t even think I got a callback
, he admitted.
Austin was vying for the part of Peeta Mellark, which ultimately went to Josh Hutcherson, who was cast when he was just 18 years old. Josh starred opposite Jennifer Lawrence (playing Katniss Everdeen) and Liam Hemsworth (playing Gale Hawthorne).
In discussing his unsuccessful bid for Peeta, Butler graciously praised Hutcherson’s performance, saying he’s great
.
A Competitive Audition Process
The casting process for Peeta was highly competitive, with actors like Evan Peters, Hunter Parrish, and Lucas Till also auditioning. This fact underscores how challenging it was to land the role.
Other Challenges and Triumphs
While Austin Butler didn’t secure Peeta’s role, not all of his auditions have ended in disappointment. He recounted his five-month journey to land the lead in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis. Through exhaustive workshops—rather than traditional auditions—Butler demonstrated his dedication. After working with dialect, movement and singing coaches, he finally secured the role by impressing Baz with a video of himself singing Unchained Melody in a bathrobe.
Austin’s perspective on rejection is notable. He shared, You get told ‘no’ so many times… It’s a numbers game. Prepare to go to 100 auditions before you book one
. These words reflect resilience and hope, resonating with aspiring actors facing similar challenges.
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