David Henrie says he was one of the final contenders to play Gale Hawthorne in The Hunger Games before the role went to Liam Hemsworth.
The 37-year-old Wizards of Waverly Place actor recalled the audition in an episode of The Lila Rose Show released October 20. His account drew renewed attention when Entertainment Weekly covered the interview on November 8.
Henrie said negotiations had reached a potential three-picture deal worth millions of dollars. He had wanted the opportunity to join the adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ bestselling books.
He now calls missing out “the best thing in the world,” crediting the disappointment with putting him on a path back to his Catholic faith.
David Henrie Recalls His Chemistry Read With Jennifer Lawrence
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Henrie and his former girlfriend had gone on double dates with Lawrence and her boyfriend before the audition.
He knew she had been cast as Katniss Everdeen, but had not expected her to be present for the chemistry read. Henrie remembered feeling comfortable with her and believing the audition had gone exceptionally well.
Then Hemsworth entered the room. Henrie recalled being struck by the Australian actor’s height and build, joking about how much taller his competitor appeared beside him.
Looking back, he considers Hemsworth the right choice. “I think I look too much like Josh,” Henrie said of Josh Hutcherson, who played Peeta Mellark, according to Just Jared.
Hemsworth went on to play Gale in all four original Hunger Games films. The three novels became four movies when Mockingjay was divided into two parts.
Philosophy Nights on Little Boy Prompted Henrie to Reconsider His Beliefs
Henrie traces the change to his work on Little Boy, the drama directed by Alejandro Monteverde and released in 2015. While filming in Mexico, he was invited to informal philosophy discussions with people involved in the production.
At the time, Henrie said, money, a house and a car had failed to give him the lasting sense of fulfillment he expected from Hollywood success.
Fellow cast member Kevin James joined the gatherings, while producer Leo Severino led the discussions. Henrie remembered starting with ordinary questions, such as why a leaf falls from a tree, before working backward toward questions about the origins of the universe.
During the Lila Rose interview, he described exploring Buddhism and comparative mythology while initially resisting the idea of God. Repeated conversations encouraged him to consider religious explanations and what those beliefs would mean for the way he lived.
Henrie had been baptized Catholic and recalled attending church at Christmas and Easter, but said regular worship and prayer had not been part of his life.
His Faith Changed How He Approached Dating and His Career
Henrie told Rose that he wanted to stop pursuing casual relationships and date with marriage in mind. An archbishop later introduced him to Maria Cahill, whom he married in 2017.
The couple now have four children. Their youngest, Peter, was born on September 2, 2026, joining Pia, James and Gemma, according to Us Weekly.
Henrie said his beliefs also made him more selective about roles. He has continued acting and directing, and Disney credits him as both Justin Russo and an executive producer on Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, which reunited him with Selena Gomez.