Jennifer Lawrence Reveals Which Popular Movie She Was ‘Immediately’ Rejected From

Jennifer Lawrence rose to fame as Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games film franchise, but her career could have taken a different path had she landed one big audition.

The Oscar winner recently revealed during an appearance on Spotify’s The Rewatchables”= podcast that she had auditioned for a role in Twilight.

“I auditioned for Twilight,” she said in the interview earlier this month. “They turned me down immediately. I didn’t even get a callback. But my life would’ve been totally different. I got Hunger Games, I think, like, a year later.”

But Lawrence said she almost didn’t accept the offer to play Katniss after witnessing the level of “fandom” surrounding the Twilight movies and its stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner.

The first Twilight film premiered in 2008, and the final installment, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2, was released in 2012. The first Hunger Games movie premiered in 2012.

“I almost didn’t do Hunger Games because Twilight had come out and that fandom had happened,” she said, adding that she was concerned that Hunger Games would bring a similar “level of fame.”

“I just assumed it was going to be like Twilight— the Twilight level of fame, and that was just never something I had in mind,” she said. “I wanted to do indies, I wanted to do good films, but I didn’t want to be the most famous person on the planet. That’s a very different life than what I pictured for myself.”

Lawrence added that she would have been “miserable” had she endured the media frenzy and tabloid fodder the Twilight actors dealt with while making the vampire film saga.

Jennifer Lawrence at the Los Angeles premiere of "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" on Monday, Nov. 18, 2013.
Jennifer Lawrence at the Los Angeles premiere of “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” on Monday, Nov. 18, 2013.

via Associated Press

Clearly, Lawrence’s casting in The Hunger Games film franchise was meant to be.

The No Hard Feelings actor told Variety in an article published earlier this month that she would “totally” return to the film franchise if given an opportunity.

“If Katniss ever could ever come back into my life, 100 percent,” she said.

Lawrence starred in all four Hunger Games installments from 2012 to 2015. She will not appear in an upcoming sequel for the franchise, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.

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Remains Of Missing Actor Julian Sands Discovered In Southern California

Authorities have confirmed actor Julian Sands as dead after his remains were discovered in a Southern California forest area, according to an update from the San Bernardino County Sheriff on Tuesday.

The cause of death for Sands, who had been missing since January, is still under investigation. His remains were discovered by hikers on Saturday morning in the Mount Baldy Area. The hikers then contacted the Fontana Sheriff’s Station.

More than 80 volunteers and authorities searched for Sands for over 500 hours between January and earlier this month, when the search became more limited.

“We would like to extend our gratitude to all the volunteers that worked tirelessly to locate Mr Sands,” the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s said in a statement on Tuesday.

Born in Yorkshire, England, in 1958, Sands played roles in various films including A Room With a View, Oceans Thirteen, The Killing Fields and Arachnophobia. He’d also been on shows such as 24 and Smallville.

“We continue to hold Julian in our hearts with bright memories of him as a wonderful father, husband, explorer, lover of the natural world and the arts, and as an original and collaborative performer,” Sands’ family said in a statement, according to The Guardian.

Sands is survived by his three children and his wife, journalist Evgenia Citkowitz.

In January, Sands’ brother, Nick, told The Guardian that the Mt Baldy area was his “favourite.”

“I know in my heart that he has gone. However, sibling rivalry being what it is, it would be just like him to walk out of there and prove me wrong,” he added.

Sands also has three other brothers: Robin, Jeremy and Quentin.

A representative for Sands did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated. Follow HuffPost UK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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Taylor Swift Reportedly Turned Down Meghan Markle’s Personal Podcast Invitation

Even a personal plea from Meghan Markle couldn’t convince Taylor Swift to appear on the duchess’ now-defunct podcast, Archetypes.

New reports are offering more insight into Markle and husband Prince Harry’s ill-fated partnership with Spotify, which came to an abrupt end earlier this month.

Despite their own fame, the Sussexes were said to have trouble finding big guests to book on their flagship show.

A personal note from Markle wasn’t even enough to merit a real response from Swift. According to insiders at the Wall Street Journal, the pop star turned down the invitation via a representative.

Taylor Swift performs during the opener of her Eras Tour in Glendale, Arizona, on March 17.
Taylor Swift performs during the opener of her Eras Tour in Glendale, Arizona, on March 17.

via Associated Press

Beyond getting snubbed, sources say the royals struggled to find guests and “material consistent with their brand”.

Archetypes’ 12-episode run still featured A-listers like Serena Williams, Mariah Carey and Paris Hilton, however.

Though there were discussions about a second season, plans did not move forward on a follow-up.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex speaks at the One Young World 2022 Manchester Summit in Manchester, England, on Sept. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex speaks at the One Young World 2022 Manchester Summit in Manchester, England, on Sept. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

via Associated Press

Spotify and the Sussexes announced they were ending their partnership in a joint statement on June 16, where each said they “mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series we made together”.

Harry and Meghan’s camp called the move more of a pivot than a problem, with a representative for the couple’s production company Archewell telling WSJ: “New companies often make changes in their start up phase, both with people and strategy, and we are no exception. We’re more equipped, focused and energised than ever before.”

The Duke and Duchess announced their partnership with Spotify in 2020 after striking a deal which was reportedly worth millions.

Prior to that, the pair had teamed up with Netflix, producing the 2022 docuseries Harry & Meghan and presenting the series Live To Lead, which featured interviews with late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and environmental activist Greta Thunberg.

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Taylor Swift Asks Fans To Be Kind To Anyone They Think She Might Have Dated

Before performing Dear John, at her Minneapolis concert Saturday night, Taylor Swift asked her fans to show “kindness and gentleness” to anyone they think she might have written a song about.

“I’m 33 years old,” Swift said on Saturday. “I don’t care about anything that happened to me when I was 19 except the songs I wrote and the memories we made together.”

Swift is in the process of re-recording her first six albums so she can own them. On July 7, she will release Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), a re-recording of her third studio album, which came out in 2010. On that album is the song Dear John, which fans believe is about Swift’s brief relationship with singer John Mayer.

After Swift released Red (Taylor’s Version) and fans flooded Jake Gyllenhaal’s Instagram with comments because they believed the breakup song All Too Well was about him, Swift is asking her fans to be kind on the internet.

“So what I’m trying to tell you,” Swift continued, “is that I’m not putting this album out so that you can go and should feel the need to defend me on the internet against someone you think I might have written a song about 14 million years ago.”

She then announced she would sing Dear John but only because she’s “proud of it as a song.”

Mayer told Rolling Stone in 2012 that Dear John “humiliated” him and made him feel “terrible.” He called the song “cheap songwriting.”

When asked about his response during an appearance that year on Katie Couric’s talk show, Swift simply said, “Oh, come on.”

It’s unclear how Swift feels about Mayer and his comments now, but it seems like at least she doesn’t want her fans to bully him on the internet. Swift also told fans on Saturday night that she gets to witness her fans be kind to one another during each concert and watch them bond and give one another friendship bracelets.

“I was hoping to ask you that as we lead up to this album coming out, I would love for that kindness and that gentleness to extend on to our internet activities,” she said.

“What I’m trying to say is I’m putting this album out because I want to own my music and I believe any artist who has the desire to own their music should be able to. That’s why I’m putting out this album.”

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Watch One Of Beyoncé’s Dancers Swoop In To Save Her From A Wardrobe Malfunction

Beyoncé avoided an onstage wardrobe malfunction this week thanks to a smooth move from one of her dancers on the Renaissance World Tour.

Queen Bey, during a concert in Hamburg, Germany, on Wednesday, was on the verge of bringing her Break My Soul performance to a close when her shiny red dress seemed to slip.

One of her dancers with the Les Twins — a dance duo made up of Larry and Laurent Bourgeois — appeared to spot the near slip as he moved in to cover Bey from the audience’s view.

He went on to grab the singer’s hand and bring it to her dress before dancing aside, as Beyoncé confidently closed out the song.

Watch videos of the dancer’s quick decision-making below:

Members of the Beyhive praised the move, saying the dancer exhibited “KING BEHAVIOR” on stage.

Bey looks to continue the Renaissance World Tour in Germany on Saturday before heading to Poland. She’s then set to travel back across the pond to North America.

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Kelly Clarkson Spills On Her Taylor Swift Tweet That Ruffled Music Mogul’s Feathers

Kelly Clarkson has opened up about her viral 2019 tweet that showed love for Taylor Swift after music industry titan Scooter Braun acquired the masters of the singer-songwriter’s first six albums.

“We ran into each other, and [Braun] reached out at the time to my manager,” Clarkson told host Andy Cohen.

“I was like ‘It wasn’t anything against him.’ When she came out and said that and I heard about it, I was like ‘Whatever, rerecord them. Your fans will support you.’ Uh, they did — she has like every top record right now in the charts.”

The Because of You singer added that Braun, who sold Swift’s masters in 2020, believed she was “attacking him.”

Clarkson later described Swift as a “genius.”

“This woman is brilliant … she would’ve come up with that on her own and she maybe already had before I even tweeted it,” Clarkson said.

Swift, has so far dropped two rerecorded albums, including Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (Taylor’s Version). She’s set to release her third rerecorded album, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), on July 7.

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Jon Hamm And John Slattery Speaking About Their Friendship Could Not Be Any Cuter

Jon Hamm and John Slattery have dished on their bromance, with some especially heartwarming comments.

The pair shared the screen together on the hit US drama Mad Men between 2007 to 2015 and have stayed close friends ever since.

Last year, they appeared together in the crime comedy Confess, Fletch, while Slattery has also directed the new comedy Maggie Moore(s), starring Hamm and Tina Fey.

In a new interview with People, Hamm said their working relationship meant they could “grow to hate each other or grow to love one another”.

“We became great friends,” he said.

Detailing their friendship, he continued: “When we’re hanging out together—on the beach, in the city, out in L—it’s truly a gift,”

“When we also get to extend that into working together, that’s icing on the cake.”

Slattery added: “The older I get, the more I’m aware of the passage of time.

“Knowing this whole thing is finite and there’s a winnowing list of people with whom you want to spend your life. I just enjoy Jon’s company. I value it.”

The pair value their close friendship with one another
The pair value their close friendship with one another

Bravo via Getty Images

Earlier this month, Slattery said he couldn’t be happier for Hamm, who announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Anna Osceola in February.

“I mean, they’re lovely. Together, they’re great people,” he said. “I’m extremely happy for them.”

Noting that he “couldn’t be luckier” in his own 25-year marriage to actor Talia Balsam, Slattery added: “I hope he has the same luck as I did.”

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Indiana Jones Director Has Something To Say About Negative Reviews For Latest Film

Indiana Jones director James Mangold has had his say on the less favourable reviews of the latest instalment in the movie franchise.

Outlets including the BBC, The Times and The Telegraph gave the franchise’s last hurrah just two stars in reviews published after its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

Although it currently has a 61% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it also marks the lowest score of all five films.

Speaking to Variety about the film’s critical reception, James appeared unsurprised.

He said: “When you’re in franchise land, it’s very hard for critical thinkers to overlook what I’m sure their editors want, which is this business prism of how does it rate to the other ones?

“I always thought if I were second or third best to one of the greatest films of all time, I’d be good. I mean, it all vaporises later. Either the movie will live or it won’t.”

Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny is the first film in the series not to have been directed by Steven Spielberg, and follows 2008′s Indiana Jones And The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

There’s also a star turn from Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who plays Indiana Jones’s goddaughter Helena Shaw.

Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny hits cinemas on 28 June.

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Foo Fighters Reveal Themselves To Be Glastonbury’s Mystery Band ‘The Churnups’

Dave Grohl’s Foo Fighters have been unmasked as the mystery band playing the main stage at Glastonbury festival.

Rumours were flying around after an unfamiliar name appeared on Friday’s schedule to play the Pyramid Stage at 6.15pm – after Texas and ahead of Royal Blood and headline act Arctic Monkeys. Pulp were another name in the mix.

The game was given away shortly before the big reveal on the Foo Fighters official UK Twitter account (and perhaps Grohl being spotted backstage).

The set opened with the 2002 hit, All My Life.

“You guys knew it was us the whole time, didn’t you?” laughed Grohl. “It’s nice to see your faces again.”

A mini-greatest hits set also included Learn To Fly, The Pretender and Best Of You.

Of Hawkins, Grohl told the audience: “We wouldn’t be here without him.”

The American rock band are also dropping a brand new album in June, titled But Here We Are, and coincidentally had a huge Glastonbury-sized hole in their touring schedule.

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Jon Hamm Opens Up About Engagement To Anna Osceola

Jon Hamm, who got engaged in February, is finally in “a pretty good place”.

While the 52-year-old Mad Men star met Anna Osceola while shooting the show’s finale in 2015, they were only first linked romantically in 2020. Hamm said finding the right partner wasn’t easy, but that his 35-year-old fiancée is one he can finally “lean on”.

“I think when you’re figuring out relationships, there’s a reason that that’s a genre unto itself in television and film,” he told People in an interview published Wednesday. “It’s a bumpy road towards relationships, but we do get better at it, I suppose.”

Osceola, a fellow actor, most recently starred opposite Hamm in the 2022 detective comedy, Confess, Fletch. Hamm previously dated Jennifer Westfeldt, but notably split with her after 18 years in 2015 — the year he met Osceola.

“I feel like I’ve figured out some things over the course of my half a century on the planet,” he said. “So I’m in a pretty good place now. Hopefully I’m learning.”

Hamm, whose parents divorced when he was two years old, didn’t have it easy. He lost his mother to colon cancer when he was 10, and later his father died when he was 20. Hamm found solace in acting at college, and revealed in 2017 he finally started going to therapy.

Jon Hamm and Anna Osceola first met while shooting the “Mad Men” series finale in 2015.
Jon Hamm and Anna Osceola first met while shooting the “Mad Men” series finale in 2015.

Evan Agostini/Invision/Associated Press

“It’s only been in the last couple of years, me kind of sitting down and really thinking about all that stuff, that’s made the relationship that I’m in now even more meaningful,” he told Howard Stern in 2022, adding he was open to “being married, having kids…happiness”.

While still challenging, Hamm finds life easier and more rewarding with Osceola by his side.

“You’re in it, it’s your life, and so you wake up and you deal with what comes at you,” he told People. “That’s certainly the case with us. The funny thing about this career is that there’s no rule book. You really have to lean on one another for…support and…any kind of advice.”

The trauma of losing one parent as a child and the other soon after oddly made Hamm the best candidate for his fractured Mad Men character of Don Draper. Hamm, who previously revealed he regularly abused alcohol in the past, is fortunately much happier today.

Living with another actor, meanwhile, has shown to be uniquely challenging on its own. Hamm said that he and Osceola handle those hurdles “day to day”, specially when the lines between work and home life appear too blurry to distinguish.

They currently star together in Maggie Moore(s) directed by Mad Men alum John Slattery.

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