'Hunger Games' Auditions: Josh Hutcherson Competed With These 5 Stars to Play Peeta (Including 1 of 2024's Biggest Movie Stars)

Josh Hutcherson‘s performance as Peeta is so central to the Hunger Games franchise that it’s impossible to imagine the movies without him.

His chemistry with Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth kept us on the edge of our seats, and we’re still loving the blockbusters all these years later.

However, none of them were guaranteed their roles in the blockbusters.

Believe it or not, nine other actors auditioned to play Katniss before Jennifer was cast as the arrow-slinging star. Liam faced off against three other actors, too.

After Jennifer joined the movie, six stars were in the running to play Peeta Mellark, the boy with the bread. Of course, the role ultimately went to Josh, and he played it exceptionally in all four movies.

But if things had gone differently, who might have starred in the movie alongside Jennifer?

We got a little curious and decided to round up Josh‘s four main competitors. Interestingly, one was cast in a different role, and two of them starred in other movies with Jennifer.

Scroll through the four stars who were being considered for the role of Peeta Mellark before Josh Hutcherson was cast…