Austin Butler Reveals He Auditioned for Peeta in “The Hunger Games”: 'I Didn't Get It at All'

Josh Hutcherson ultimately played the role in four of the franchise films, beginning in 2012

Austin Butler is revealing a role that got away from him.

While answering questions for BuzzFeed Celeb with his The Bikeriders costar Jodie Comer, the actor, 32, revealed that he auditioned for the role of Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games franchise.

He said he didn't come close to landing the role of the boy from District 12 who wins Katniss Everdeen's (Jennifer Lawrence) heart.

"I auditioned for The Hunger Games and I didn't get it at all. I don't even think I got a call back," Butler said, adding that he went for the role of Peeta, who Josh Hutcherson played in four of the franchise films.

"Their loss, Austin," Comer, 31, said.

Related: 17 Actors Who Were Almost in The Hunger Games

The Elvis actor appeared to take the pass in stride, adding that Hutcherson, 31, was "great" in the role.

Butler wasn't the only big name to fall short of the role. Evan Peters and Lucas Till were reportedly frontrunners for the role, and in March 2011, Hunter Parrish told E! News he met with producers about playing the baker's son after online support for him to be cast in the role.

As for the role of Katniss, actresses Saoirse Ronan, Hailee Steinfeld, Shailene Woodley, Emma Roberts and Zoey Deutch were reportedly up against Lawrence, 33, for the role at different points in time.

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"I screen-tested for Katniss but knew I didn't get it because in the screen test, he was like, 'Why don't you read this other part?' " Deutch, 29 said on the Lights, Camera, Barstool podcast. "Literally. But, yeah, that one was a little painful."

Butler went on to star in the YA TV series The Carrie Diaries before nabbing roles in movies like Once Upon A Time... in Hollywood and getting nominated for an Oscar for 2023's Elvis.

The Bikeriders is in theaters now.

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