More than a decade has passed since the release of the first Hunger Games movie, and it has become nearly impossible to envision anyone other than Jennifer Lawrence portraying the iconic character of Katniss Everdeen. Similarly, the upcoming series adaptation of Harry Potter has left fans with mixed feelings, as it is challenging for them to imagine Harry, Ron, and Hermione portrayed by actors other than Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson.
This phenomenon is expected to repeat itself for Twilight fans, as the story is also being adapted into a TV show, introducing new actors to fill the roles that were once inhabited by Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. However, one might wonder if the course of these sagas would have been significantly altered had different actors been cast in the lead roles.
Before landing the role of Katniss Everdeen in Suzanne Collins’ franchise, Jennifer Lawrence was tirelessly pursuing her big break and believed that she might find it in Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight. She even auditioned for the adaptation but unfortunately did not receive a callback. Reflecting on this experience during her recent appearance on The Rewatchables Podcast, the Oscar-winning actress recalled one of the significant setbacks in her career just before becoming the Girl on Fire:
“I didn’t even get a callback [laughs]. But my life would’ve been totally different. I got Hunger Games I think, like, a year later.”
Undoubtedly, the impact that the role of Bella Swan would have had on Lawrence’s career would have been as influential as her portrayal of Katniss Everdeen in terms of popularity. However, both Stewart and Pattinson had to confront the prejudices associated with their Twilight roles, a challenge that Lawrence fortunately did not have to face.
Just as numerous actresses vied for the role of Bella, there were also many contenders for the part of Katniss. The opportunity to bring one of the primary heroines of young adult literature to life at that time was undeniably appealing to a long list of actresses, some of whom later found their chance to star in other sagas.
Shailene Woodley, who eventually went on to play Tris Prior in the Divergent adaptation, was among the candidates to portray the District 12 Tribute. Another actress who would later become the face of a prominent franchise, Kaya Scodelario, aspired to become Katniss before landing the role of Teresa in The Maze Runner.
From the realm of comics emerged another strong contender, Chloe Grace Moretz, who had already captivated audiences with her performance in Kick-Ass. Hailee Steinfeld had not yet embarked on her journey in the superhero genre or showcased her archery skills, but she came close to securing the role as well.
The list of aspiring Katniss actresses also included Saoirse Ronan, Abigail Breslin, Troian Bellisario, Emma Roberts, and Emily Browning, making the competition for the part truly fierce.
In conclusion, the casting choices for these iconic roles in the Hunger Games, Twilight, and Harry Potter franchises played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of the actors involved. While it is challenging to imagine these characters portrayed by anyone else, it is fascinating to contemplate how different interpretations might have altered the course of these sagas.
