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.”
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.
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.
