Josh Hutcherson, the American actor who shot to global prominence as Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games franchise, has revealed he initially felt a strong sense of 'resentment' towards the intense fame that accompanied his role. Speaking to his former co-star Elizabeth Banks for Variety’s Actors on Actors series, Hutcherson, now 33, reflected on the dramatic and sudden shift in his life after the 2012 film catapulted him into the spotlight alongside Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth.
Hutcherson explained, "For a long time, I was resentful toward it, because I didn’t want that kind of attention. So I was chip-on-my-shoulder angry about it." He was just 18 years old when he took on the iconic role, appearing in The Hunger Games (2012), The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013), The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014), and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay ��� Part 2 (2015). Despite his initial struggles with the sudden scrutiny, he added that "With years of perspective, I have grown to appreciate it so much."
The actor also touched upon the impact of the franchise on his career trajectory. During an interview on Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s Dinner’s On Me podcast last year, Hutcherson admitted that post-Hunger Games, his career experienced a significant lull. He shared that he had known only success from the age of nine until around 24, and the industry’s rapid shift from intense interest to a lack of offers was a stark lesson. "I tasted my first feeling of disappointment, failure, rejection, probably when I was 24 or so, 25. (Suddenly I was) not getting any offers (and) not getting cast," he said.
Despite these personal challenges, Hutcherson expressed admiration for the enduring nature of The Hunger Games series. He praised the original source novels as "amazing" and commented on the upcoming sixth film, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, which is set for release in November this year. He noted, "It’s cool to see it continue with a different generation and different stories. Unfortunately, it’s still a very timely issue with authoritarian governments, so young people need to be educated." The most recent film in the franchise, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, was released in 2023, starring Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler, and is available to stream in the UK on services such as Apple TV+ with a subscription or rental.
In recent years, Hutcherson has seen a return to prominence, featuring in films such as The Beekeeper, I Love LA, and the successful horror film Five Nights at Freddy’s, which was available to stream on Prime Video in the UK. His candid reflections offer insight into the often-complex relationship between young actors and the intense pressures of global blockbuster fame.