Before he even turned 20, Josh Hutcherson had already built an impressive acting career, with notable roles in films like Jon Favreau's "Zathura" (2005), the cross-country adventure "RV" (2006) alongside Robin Williams, and the journey to the center of the Earth with Brendan Fraser. However, it was his portrayal of Peeta Mellark in "The Hunger Games" series that catapulted him to new heights. In a recent interview with Yahoo Entertainment, now 27, Hutcherson looked back on his experiences during the iconic franchise, including a memorable incident involving his co-star and fellow Kentucky native, Jennifer Lawrence.
Hutcherson recounted the first time he met Lawrence in early 2011, before their "Hunger Games" journey began. Both were attending the SAG Awards for their respective films, "The Kids Are All Right" and "Winter's Bone." Lawrence approached him with a heartwarming story. She had seen a local newspaper article in Kentucky when she was about 10 years old, featuring a young actor who had ventured to California to pursue acting – that actor was Josh Hutcherson. Inspired by his story, she showed it to her parents, expressing her desire to follow in his footsteps. Little did they know that destiny would unite them in the same film series years later.
Throughout the filming of "The Hunger Games," Hutcherson and Lawrence developed a close bond, although it wasn't without its share of painful moments for him. Early into the shooting of the first film in 2012, Lawrence, in a moment of exuberance, accidentally kicked Hutcherson in the head while attempting to demonstrate her impressive legwork. The impact resulted in a mild concussion.
Hutcherson humorously recalls the incident, stating that Lawrence was "being a real show-off, thinking that she was Jackie Chan or something." She boasted about her ability to kick over his head, but as she attempted to demonstrate, she inadvertently struck him in the temple, causing him to lose consciousness. Hutcherson couldn't recall much from the incident, but when he regained consciousness, he found Lawrence crying and hovering over him, deeply apologetic.
Reflecting on his "Hunger Games" experience, Hutcherson described it as a "double-edged sword." On one hand, he cherished the opportunity to work with incredible actors and witness their craft, from Jennifer Lawrence to Philip Seymour Hoffman, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, and Mahershala Ali. On the other hand, he grappled with the fear of being typecast as the gentle and kind-hearted Peeta Mellark for an extended period.
Hutcherson mentioned the career trajectory of Robert Pattinson, who transitioned from his iconic role as a "Twilight" heartthrob to receiving critical acclaim in indie films like "Good Time" and "The Lighthouse." Pattinson's ability to break free from his earlier image serves as an inspiration for actors who fear being pigeonholed.
Josh Hutcherson's diverse and continually evolving career underscores his determination not to be confined to a single typecast role.
