Exclusive: Josh Hutcherson Hunger Games Interview
IGN: Have you seen it completed?
Hutcherson: I just saw it for the first time yesterday and it’s great, so much fun. The 3D really draws you into the story and takes you along for a great ride.
IGN: How gruelling was the audition process?
Hutcherson: It wasn’t physically gruelling but mentally it was rough because I’ve never connected with a character more than I have with Peeta. I felt he was so much who I am as a person and what my core beliefs are. It drove me crazy because I thought, “I’m perfect for this!” They were the toughest few weeks of my life just because I wanted it so badly.
IGN: What’s your connection with Peeta?
Hutcherson: It’s the belief of not letting something change you, which is very much a driving force in Peeta’s motivation throughout the stories. That’s completely who I am. This business hasn’t changed me and people don’t change me and the most important thing is that at night when you lay there by yourself, all you have is you and if you’re not true to yourself, what else matters?
IGN: Did you enjoy the shoot?
Hutcherson: I really enjoyed all the action stuff. It was like running around playing in the woods like I did all my life growing up. It was gruelling but it was made easy by [director] Gary [Ross] and by the greatness of the story. Even though it was this big, epic studio franchise, it didn’t feel like that on set. It was a very intimate setting which I feel allowed for everybody to give great performances.
IGN: Being part of this potentially huge franchise, did you feel any pressure, like, “I’d better not screw this up”?
Hutcherson: You know, because I was confident in the idea that I was so much Peeta in myself, I wasn’t worried about that as much as I was terrified of what my life might become. That’s the scariest part of it all for me.
IGN: The expectations are for it to become the new Twilight…
Hutcherson: If that does end up being the case, I’ll be so grateful and terrified at the same time.
ALL THE AWARDS
cutest guy; best peeta; biggest smile; best teeth; best baker…
