17 Actors Who Were Almost inThe Hunger Games

Photo:Gregg DeGuire/WireImage; Murray Close/Lionsgate/Courtesy Everett Collection

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage; Murray Close/Lionsgate/Courtesy Everett Collection

Though it’s hard to imagine anyone butJennifer Lawrence,Josh HutchersonandLiam Hemsworthinthe roles of Katniss, Peeta and Galenow, many other actors were up for the coveted roles.

Based on Suzanne Collins’ bestselling books of the same name, the first movie was conceived in 2009 when Lionsgate acquired distribution rights to the novel.

It’s said that about 30 actresses auditioned for the lead role of Katniss in 2011, but in the end, the odds were in Lawrence’s favor.

“Jennifer blew the doors off the place,”Gary Ross toldThe Hollywood Reporterof the casting process. “Josh was pitch-perfect. I had no idea that Liam wasn’t American until I talked to him when the reading was over. They were all just great. These were honestly easy decisions for me.”

Asthe world of Panem expands even furtherwith the prequel,The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakespremiering this week, take a look back at which actors auditioned for the lead roles.

01of 17Saoirse Ronan as KatnissSaoirse Ronan and Jennifer Lawrence.Samir Hussein/WireImage; Murray Close/©Lionsgate/courtesy Everett CollectionSaoirse Ronanwas one of the 30 actresses who auditioned for the role of Katniss. Though she lost out to Lawrence, she did end up booking a different book-to-movie adaptation as she starred inThe HostfromTwilightcreator Stephenie Meyer.

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Saoirse Ronan as Katniss

Saoirse Ronan and Jennifer Lawrence.Samir Hussein/WireImage; Murray Close/©Lionsgate/courtesy Everett Collection

Samir Hussein/WireImage; Murray Close/©Lionsgate/courtesy Everett Collection

Saoirse Ronanwas one of the 30 actresses who auditioned for the role of Katniss. Though she lost out to Lawrence, she did end up booking a different book-to-movie adaptation as she starred inThe HostfromTwilightcreator Stephenie Meyer.

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Hailee Steinfeld as Katniss

Hailee Steinfeld and Jennifer Lawrence.Cindy Ord/Getty; Murray Close/Color Force/Lionsgate/Kobal/Shutterstock

Cindy Ord/Getty; Murray Close/Color Force/Lionsgate/Kobal/Shutterstock

“I truly believe everything happens for a reason,” she said. “There are so many parts that I wanted or didn’t get … But I think, weirdly, it’s the same feeling of having missed every high school dance and prom, and yet I somehow found my way to the Met Gala. I feel like I’ve made up for it.”

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Zoey Deutch as Katniss

Zoey Deutch and Jennifer Lawrence.Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; Lionsgate/Kobal/Shutterstock

Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; Lionsgate/Kobal/Shutterstock

Zoey Deutchtested for Katniss, a role she later saidshe was super “disappointed” about not getting. “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?’ " she said on theLights, Camera, Barstoolpodcast. “Literally. But, yeah, that one was a little painful.”

04of 17Shailene Woodley as KatnissShailene Woodley and Jennifer Lawrence.Gregg DeGuire/WireImage; Murray Close/Lionsgate/Courtesy Everett CollectionShailene Woodleywas another big name who tried out for Katniss. Years later, she went on to play another famous YA heroine as she was cast as Beatrice Prior in 2014’sDivergent.

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Shailene Woodley as Katniss

Shailene Woodley and Jennifer Lawrence.Gregg DeGuire/WireImage; Murray Close/Lionsgate/Courtesy Everett Collection

Shailene Woodleywas another big name who tried out for Katniss. Years later, she went on to play another famous YA heroine as she was cast as Beatrice Prior in 2014’sDivergent.

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Emma Roberts as Katniss

Emma Roberts and Jennifer Lawrence.Dia Dipasupil/Getty; Murray Close/Lionsgate/Courtesy Everett Collection

Dia Dipasupil/Getty; Murray Close/Lionsgate/Courtesy Everett Collection

It all worked out for the best as a few short years later, Roberts bookedAmerican Horror Story: Coven, which helped her gain critical acclaim.

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Evan Peters as Peeta

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Hunter Parrish as Peeta

Hunter Parrish and Josh Hutcherson.Walter McBride/Getty; Lionsgate/Color Force/Kobal/Shutterstock

Walter McBride/Getty; Lionsgate/Color Force/Kobal/Shutterstock

08of 17Lucas Till as PeetaLucas Till and Josh Hutcherson.Mark Hill/CBS via Getty; Murray Close/Lionsgate/courtesy Everett CollectionLucas Till was also a frontrunner for the role of Peeta. Like Peters, he didn’t book the role but did star opposite Lawrence in theX-Menfilms years later.

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Lucas Till as Peeta

Lucas Till and Josh Hutcherson.Mark Hill/CBS via Getty; Murray Close/Lionsgate/courtesy Everett Collection

Mark Hill/CBS via Getty; Murray Close/Lionsgate/courtesy Everett Collection

Lucas Till was also a frontrunner for the role of Peeta. Like Peters, he didn’t book the role but did star opposite Lawrence in theX-Menfilms years later.

09of 17David Henrie as GaleDavid Henrie and Liam Hemsworth.Rich Polk/Getty;  Lionsgate/Kobal/ShutterstocAt the height of his time ofWizards of Waverly Place, David Henrie screentested for the role of Gale, which eventually went to Hemsworth.

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David Henrie as Gale

David Henrie and Liam Hemsworth.Rich Polk/Getty;  Lionsgate/Kobal/Shutterstoc

Rich Polk/Getty;  Lionsgate/Kobal/Shutterstoc

At the height of his time ofWizards of Waverly Place, David Henrie screentested for the role of Gale, which eventually went to Hemsworth.

10of 17Drew Roy as GaleDrew Roy and Liam Hemsworth.Jerritt Clark/WireImage; Lionsgate/Kobal/ShutterstockDrew Roy was yet another Disney Channel star in the running for Gale.According toThe Hollywood Reporter, theHannah Montanaactor screentested for the role.

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Drew Roy as Gale

Drew Roy and Liam Hemsworth.Jerritt Clark/WireImage; Lionsgate/Kobal/Shutterstock

Jerritt Clark/WireImage; Lionsgate/Kobal/Shutterstock

Drew Roy was yet another Disney Channel star in the running for Gale.According toThe Hollywood Reporter, theHannah Montanaactor screentested for the role.

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Robbie Amell as Gale

Robbie Amell and Liam Hemsworth.Leon Bennett/Getty; Color Force/Lionsgate/Kobal/Shutterstock

Leon Bennett/Getty; Color Force/Lionsgate/Kobal/Shutterstock

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Kristin Chenoweth as Effie

Kristin Chenoweth and Elizabeth Banks.Rob Kim/Getty; Lionsgate/Kobal/Shutterstock

Rob Kim/Getty; Lionsgate/Kobal/Shutterstock

13of 17John C. Reilly as HaymitchJohn C. Reilly and Woody Harrelson.Elisabetta A. Villa/WireImage; Lionsgate/Kobal/ShutterstockJohn C. Reillywas said to bea major frontrunner for the role of Haymitch, however, it ended up going toWoody Harrelson.

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John C. Reilly as Haymitch

John C. Reilly and Woody Harrelson.Elisabetta A. Villa/WireImage; Lionsgate/Kobal/Shutterstock

Elisabetta A. Villa/WireImage; Lionsgate/Kobal/Shutterstock

John C. Reillywas said to bea major frontrunner for the role of Haymitch, however, it ended up going toWoody Harrelson.

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Garrett Hedlund as Finnick

Garrett Hedlund and Sam Claflin.Robin L Marshall/WireImage; Lionsgate/Kobal/Shutterstock

Robin L Marshall/WireImage; Lionsgate/Kobal/Shutterstock

Eventually, the role went toSam Claflin, which helped him gain wider recognition in Hollywood.

15of 17Taylor Kitsch as FinnickTaylor Kitsch and Sam Claflin.Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty; Lionsgate/Color Force/Kobal/ShutterstockTaylor Kitschwas said to be in the running for Finnick, but he later set the record straight, tellingThe Los Angeles Timesin 2012 that the role was “not going to happen.”

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Taylor Kitsch as Finnick

Taylor Kitsch and Sam Claflin.Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty; Lionsgate/Color Force/Kobal/Shutterstock

Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty; Lionsgate/Color Force/Kobal/Shutterstock

Taylor Kitschwas said to be in the running for Finnick, but he later set the record straight, tellingThe Los Angeles Timesin 2012 that the role was “not going to happen.”

16of 17Mia Wasikowska as JohannaMia Wasikowska and Jena Malone.Marc Piasecki/FilmMagic; Lionsgate/Color Force/Kobal/Shutterstock​​After playing Hutcherson’s sister inThe Kids Are All Right,Mia Wasikowskawasreportedly on the “short list”to play District 7 victor Johanna inCatching Fire, though the role eventually went toJena Malone.

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Mia Wasikowska as Johanna

Mia Wasikowska and Jena Malone.Marc Piasecki/FilmMagic; Lionsgate/Color Force/Kobal/Shutterstock

Marc Piasecki/FilmMagic; Lionsgate/Color Force/Kobal/Shutterstock

​​After playing Hutcherson’s sister inThe Kids Are All Right,Mia Wasikowskawasreportedly on the “short list”to play District 7 victor Johanna inCatching Fire, though the role eventually went toJena Malone.

17of 17Tony Shalhoub as BeeteeTony Shalhoub and Jeffrey Wright.Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; Lionsgate/Color Force/Kobal/ShutterstockTony Shalhoubwasreportedly “eyed” for the roleof District 3 victor Beetee in Catching Fire, however, the role ultimately went to Jeffrey Wright.

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Tony Shalhoub as Beetee

Tony Shalhoub and Jeffrey Wright.Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; Lionsgate/Color Force/Kobal/Shutterstock

Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; Lionsgate/Color Force/Kobal/Shutterstock

Tony Shalhoubwasreportedly “eyed” for the roleof District 3 victor Beetee in Catching Fire, however, the role ultimately went to Jeffrey Wright.

source: people.com