Alan Ritchson played Gloss in Catching Fire. However, the first character he auditioned for had a hilarious connection to his superhero role.

Alan Ritchson and Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger GamesCustom image by Simone Ashmoore

SUMMARY

 Ritchson was turned down for the role of Finnick in The Hunger Games due to age, but has since found success in other projects.
 Ritchson’s harsher character portrayals may not have suited Finnick’s delicate nature.
 Ritchson’s original audition for Finnick would have connected to his superhero role, but his route to success took a different path.

Alan Ritchson notably played Gloss in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, but he initially auditioned for a different character, which would’ve referenced his previous superhero role.

Alan Ritchson has found tremendous success in recent years, starring in the hit Prime Video series Reacher, playing a role in the recent box office juggernaut Fast X, and starring in the critically acclaimed film Ordinary Angels. He’s come a long way since his minor role as the brutish antagonist in Catching Fire, and Ritchson has spoken about his original audition with Men’s Health.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is available to stream on AMC+.

Alan Ritchson states in the interview that he originally auditioned for the role of Finnick Odair, which went to Sam Claflin. He explains that he was turned down for the role, as “Ritchson was told that he was too old for the character and, at 30, unlikely to break out.” It’s undeniable that Claflin’s career has prospered from the role, starring in movies like Me Before You and TV shows like Daisy Jones & The Six and Peaky Blinders. But Ritchson has defied expectations, finding his own route to success.

Alan Ritchson Playing Finnick Would Perfectly Connect To Him Playing Aquaman Before

Alan Ritchson as Aquaman in Smallville Split image of Alan Ritchson as Aquaman in Smallville in his suit and out of it Hunger Games Gloss Finnick meeting Katniss for the first time in The Hunger Games Catching Fire
 Sam Claflin As Finnick Odair In The Hunger Games

Long before The Hunger Games or Reacher, Alan Ritchson played the role of Arthur Curry/Aquaman in the WB series Smallville. He only appeared for a few episodes, but given the popularity of superhero media, it doesn’t take a long-term commitment to be remembered in such a role.

Years later, Smallville is still one of Alan Ritchson’s best movies and shows, and he’s regarded among DC TV fans for an enjoyable live-action performance that pre-dated Jason Momoa’s iteration. Still, it’s amusing how similar the role was to Finnick Odair.

Surprisingly, Smallville’s Aquaman never wielded a trident, so it would’ve been Ritchson’s first go with the weapon.

Both Arthur Curry and Finnick are known for wielding tridents in their respective franchises and for their ties to water. District 4 is one of the wealthiest districts in Panem, known for its fishing industry, where Finnick grew up.

Finnick’s charm and look make him notably similar to Aquaman in aesthetic, making it surprising Alan Ritchson didn’t get the part. Surprisingly, Smallville’s Aquaman never wielded a trident, so it would’ve been Ritchson’s first go with the weapon.

How Alan Ritchson Playing Finnick Would’ve Changed The Hunger Games Movies

Sam Claflin As Finnick Odair In The Hunger Games Catching Fire

Alan Ritchson may seem reasonable for Finnick by look, but his acting talents have tended to lean more toward harsher, brute characters like Jack Reacher, Hawk from Titans, and even Thad Castle in Blue Mountain State.

Finnick is a skilled warrior, but he’s far more delicate than the characters Ritchson has played. Ritchson may have been able to nail the character’s charm, but Sam Claflin’s performance in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire was particularly charismatic, and it’s hard to imagine someone else in the role.