In a recent interview with Wired, actor Josh Hutcherson opened up about his audition for the role of Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man and why he believes the role ultimately went to the right person, Andrew Garfield. Before rising to fame as Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games franchise, Hutcherson had submitted a video audition for the iconic superhero role, which unfortunately didn't pan out. However, the idea of Hutcherson portraying Spider-Man is still intriguing and sparks curiosity about what could have been.
Hutcherson's amiable personality and talent make him a suitable candidate for the role of Peter Parker, the lovable and relatable teenager-turned-superhero. The actor's audition consisted of filming his own audition tape, complete with stunts, a common practice within the entertainment industry. Interestingly, this method also led to actor Barry Keoghan securing the role of the Riddler in The Batman. Although Hutcherson didn't land the part, fate seemed to have other plans in store for him.
Reflecting on his audition, Hutcherson shared, 'I [auditioned for] the Andrew Garfield version. One of my friends who had been my stunt double for a few movies, he and I went down to this like stunt training gym called 8711, and we decided to shoot me doing some Spider-Man stunts. I didn't get it, but the crazy thing was like, I think a month after that, I got cast in Hunger Games.'
While fans may be disappointed that Hutcherson didn't get the opportunity to portray Spider-Man, there is still hope for a potential collaboration in the future. With the rise of multiverse projects, it wouldn't be hard for Hutcherson to make a cameo appearance as Peter Parker in upcoming Spider-Verse films. Sony has already demonstrated their willingness to incorporate live-action cameos, such as Donald Glover's portrayal of the Prowler. Additionally, projects like Avengers: Secret Wars could introduce alternative versions of beloved heroes, potentially making way for a brief appearance by Hutcherson as Spider-Man.
In fact, it wouldn't be the first time an actor who missed out on a superhero role ended up with a cameo opportunity. Nicolas Cage, widely known for his love of comic books, was initially set to portray Superman in a now-defunct project before making a fleeting appearance as the Man of Steel in The Flash. Though Cage himself wasn't physically present in the scene, it demonstrated that there are always possibilities for actors to embrace superhero roles in unconventional ways.
So, while Josh Hutcherson may not have donned the red and blue Spidey suit for the big screen, the future isn't completely devoid of opportunities for him to bring the beloved character to life, even if it's just for a brief moment. Fans eagerly await the chance to see the intersecting paths of Hutcherson and Spider-Man in the ever-expanding multiverse of superhero films. Only time will tell if Hutcherson's portrayal of the friendly neighborhood hero will become a reality, but until then, speculation and anticipation remain high.
