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Wide ScreenJosh Hutcherson talks to Yahoo! Canada Movies about his ‘Hunger Games’ transition
Making the transition from child actor to adult star can often be difficult, but Josh Hutcherson seems more than up to the challenge. The mature 19-year-old star of "The Kids Are All Right" and "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" has practically grown up in front of movie audiences, with more credits to his name than many actors twice his age.
The years of experience make Hutcherson a seasoned pro when it comes to press junkets like the one he attended in Toronto this week for "The Hunger Games." He spoke to Yahoo! Canada about the big-screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins's best-selling novel, the actors he'd like to work with, remembering to be in love with co-star Jennifer Lawrence, and what he'd like audiences to take away from his latest film.
Hutcherson landed the coveted role of Peeta Mellark in "The Hunger Games," a baker's son living in the impoverished District 12 who is randomly selected along with Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) and 22 others to compete in the titular competition. The Hunger Games are a sadistic, televised melee organized by the ruling dictatorship in which children between the ages of 12 and 18 are forced to battle to the death for the glory of their respective districts.
But doing well in the Hunger Games isn't just about being the best fighter; it's also about making a good impression with viewers. Sponsorships mean that a competitor's likability can make the difference between life and death, something that sounds eerily like the press tour Hutcherson was taking part in. It may not be about life and death, but an actor's likability can mean the difference between box office success and failure.
"Peeta is good at getting people and knowing when he has to turn it on and when he has to really play things up, and that's something that I've been doing for quite a while," Hutcherson told reporters. "I don't feel like I'm putting on a show; it's actually me! Just a more talkative, outgoing version of me. So I could definitely pull from that for Peeta."
Hutcherson sees many other similarities between himself and his character, comparing elements of Peeta's journey to what he went through in his own life growing up in the business.
"My favourite thing that I connect with the most is [Peeta's] belief in not becoming a piece in someone else's game and his steadfastness of not changing who he is as a person because of the circumstances he's in," said Hutcherson. "Growing up as an actor, you have a lot of opportunities to become fake or something different than what you are, and I never wanted to do that."
Compared to his "Hunger Games" co-star, newcomer Jennifer Lawrence, Hutcherson is a Hollywood veteran, but that doesn't mean he got everything right all the time. Like their characters in the film, the fellow Kentuckians developed a strong friendship on set. In fact, the two actors became so buddy-buddy that director Gary Ross had to remind them from time to time that their characters were meant to have a much deeper connection.
"He would always say, 'Guys, you're supposed to be in love, you can't be like this!'" Hutcherson joked. "It is something that you have to keep in mind when you're in a scene with somebody that you've become such good friends with: 'Oh yeah, there's supposed to be a sexual chemistry between us as well!'"
The entire film hinges on the relationship between Peeta and Katniss. If Hutcherson and Lawrence's dynamic hadn't worked onscreen, the movie would have been in serious trouble. However, the two actors brought their A-game to the project. Their strong performances and great onscreen chemistry will likely win over most fans of the books, and if the fans are on board, then the success of "The Hunger Games" film is all but assured.
Hutcherson, for his part, remains amazed by the passionate fan base for the film. "I've never been a part of anything that has this much hype . . . even before we shot the first frame!" he said, flabbergasted.
The success of the movie will also bode well for Hutcherson's career. Between "The Hunger Games" and the ensuing four films -- four films! -- he has slated for release this year, the odds seem ever in the young actor's favour. If "The Hunger Games" is the smash that many are predicting it will be, Hutcherson could very well find himself in extremely high demand. Given a choice of projects, the actor makes no secret about who he'd like to work with in the future.
"Ryan Gosling is extremely talented; I'd love to do something with him. Also somebody like Christian Bale -- who is an absolute chameleon and a crazy man -- I think he'd be awesome to work with," he said.
As for filmmakers, Hutcherson cited "Fight Club" and "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" director David Fincher as someone he'd like to collaborate with. "He's one of those guys that really transcends that indie feel with commercial appeal."
Speaking of commercial appeal, "The Hunger Games" has that in spades. But the science-fiction film also takes aim at some of Western society's most sacred cows -- namely reality TV and the sensitive issue of income inequality.
"Obviously we're not killing kids in reality TV yet -- I mean, we are with shows like 'Toddlers in Tiaras,'" Hutcherson quipped. "But the film talks about the disconnect that people have with reality TV and reality."
Aside from the clear message about the perils of reality TV, the young actor believes the film's subject matter makes "The Hunger Games" especially "poignant" in these tough economic times.
"I think for me, more than reality TV, it's more of a warning about the separation of rich and poor. You have the 1 per cent and the 99 per cent, and in this movie it's extremely evident that that is how Panem came to be. It's the 1 per cent completely controlling the 99 per cent."
Hutcherson hopes that while audiences enjoy "The Hunger Games," they're also aware of the real message of the film.
"People are really struggling all over the world to survive and just put food on the table -- this story speaks to them," said Hutcherson. "It's all about giving a voice to people who have none and about people banding together to fight something that's so much bigger than them."
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