Zoey Deutch Recalls 'Painful' Audition for Katniss in 'The Hunger Games' : It Was 'Tough'

Mar. 15, 2025

Zoey Deutch; Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen.Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty; Murray Close/Color Force/Lionsgate/Kobal/Shutterstock

TheNot Okayactress, 27, recently opened up on theLights, Camera, Barstoolpodcast about auditioning for the part that famously went toJennifer Lawrence, saying it’s the role she’s most disappointed about having missed out on.

“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, laughing. “Literally. But, yeah, that one was a little painful.”

Aside from Lawrence, 31, the series starredLiam Hemsworth,Josh Hutcherson,Woody Harrelson,Elizabeth Banks,Donald Sutherland,Stanley Tucci,Julianne Mooreand more.

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A prequel film —The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, based on Collins' 2020 book — is currently in the works and set for a theatrical release on Nov. 17, 2023. Among the cast announced so far areTom Blyth,Rachel Zegler,Hunter SchaferandPeter Dinklage.

Zegler, 21, shared the new of her casting on social media in May, as well asa pair of snapshotsof herself on the phone at a restaurant looking excited, which she captioned, “Photos from when i found out it was happening and it was real.”

TheWest Side Storyactress is set to take on the role of Lucy Gray Baird, the female lead inThe Balladopposite Blyth’s Snow.

On theLights, Camera, Barstoolpodcast, Deutch also recalled being onstage at a recent awards show where she presented an honor for best limited series, “and every single one that was nominated, I had auditioned [for] and not gotten.”

“During thepandemic, there were only, like, four projects that I auditioned for that I really wanted. And all four of them, I was like, ‘And the award goes to … ' " theSet It Upactress said.

“I wanted to be like, ‘And the award doesn’t go to [me]. Don’t worry, if you lose, I lost too. I didn’t get any of these parts!’ " Deutch added.

source: people.com