Casting 'The Hunger Games' - 5 Actors Competed With Josh Hutcherson to Play Peeta (Including 1 of 2024's Most In-Demand Stars)

Josh Hutcherson‘s performance in the Hunger Games franchise earned him critical acclaim. However, he wasn’t guaranteed the role of Peeta.

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.

While we cannot imagine the movies without the trio now, they all had to audition like anyone else in Hollywood.

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 booked the part?

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.

Fun fact: One of the stars on this list is considered as being amongst the 10 most in-demand young movie stars of 2024.

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