The Hunger Games: Austin Butler Auditioned for a Key Role

The Dune: Part Two star reveals he lost the role of Peeta Mellark.

By Jenna Anderson

Our popular culture keeps circling back to The Hunger Games, as Suzanne Collins' young-adult franchise spawns more books, movies, and conversation from fans. With a new title in the franchise, the upcoming prequel book and movie Sunrise on the Reaping, announced earlier this month, the existing installments have continued to be spoken about — even from Oscar-nominated Elvis and The Bikeriders star Austin Butler. in a recent interview with BuzzFeed Celeb, Butler revealed that he lost out on the role of Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games, who was ultimately portrayed by Josh Hutcherson in the film series.

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

What Is the New Hunger Games Movie About?

Sunrise on the Reaping revisits the world of Panem twenty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the Fiftieth Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.

"With Sunrise on the Reaping, I was inspired by David Hume's idea of implicit submission and, in his words, 'the easiness with which the many are governed by the few,'" Collins said in a statement announcing the book. "The story also lent itself to a deeper dive into the use of propaganda and the power of those who control the narrative. The question 'Real or not real?' seems more pressing to me every day."

Will There Be More Hunger Games Movies?

In addition to the story of Haymitch's Hunger Games, fans have also hoped to one day get a prequel surrounding Finnick Odair, who won the 65th Hunger Games and became a pivotal and tragic part of the next Quarter Quell. Collins has repeatedly stated that her Hunger Games entries are a way for her to "examine" a real-world topic, with franchise director Francis Lawrence indicating that another film installment wouldn't happen without Collins having a specific narrative in mind. 

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"If Suzanne has another thematic idea that she feels fits into the world of Panem — whether that's with new people [or] familiar characters [like] Finnick, Haymitch, whoever — I'd be really interested in looking at it and being a part of it," Lawrence told Entertainment Weekly in an interview last year. "But I don't have any pull of just going, 'I would love to do Finnick's games.' He's a great character, but what's the thematic underpinnings that make it worth telling and relevant?"

Sunrise on the Reaping will be released wherever books are sold on March 18, 2025, followed by the movie adaptation on November 20, 2026.

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