Josh Hutcherson, known for his role in “The Hunger Games,” was ready to leave L.A. For years, he and his girlfriend, Claudia Traisac, shuffled between Los Angeles and Madrid. The time difference had become tiring. So, they leased an apartment in Brooklyn, excited to start fresh. But as they drove from JFK Airport, Hutcherson got a surprising call from his agent.
“Do you want to go back to the airport?” the agent asked. Hutcherson was puzzled. It turned out a rising star, Rachel Sennott, wanted him for her new HBO comedy, “I Love L.A.” But filming would start in just two weeks.
Hutcherson had been acting since he was a kid. He starred in “Zathura: A Space Adventure” at 13 and became a household name with “The Hunger Games” at 18. However, as he neared 30, he felt the industry was losing interest in him. “There were times when I thought I might be done with acting,” he admitted.
Now, at 33, Hutcherson is on the rise again. He stars in a sequel to “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” which exploded in popularity, earning $292 million worldwide. He quickly made adjustments to join “I Love L.A.”, an experience that rekindled his love for acting.
On the show, which premiered on November 2 and got renewed for a second season, Hutcherson plays Dylan, a schoolteacher navigating life with his girlfriend, Maia, played by Sennott. “There’s something about him that feels like he could be your boyfriend,” Sennott said of Hutcherson.
While some actors thirst for fame, Hutcherson finds himself differently. “I’ve always maintained a distance from the glitz,” he shares. “I just want to tell stories that matter.”
He enjoys the simplicity of playing a relatable character in a modern setting. “I don’t need to pretend we’re in a dystopian future,” he said. At the same time, he acknowledges the challenges of working with animatronics in “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2.” “There’s a whole team just to operate one character!” he laughed.
Hutcherson appreciates the dedicated fan base for the game series. “At first, I didn’t realize how big it was until after the first film,” he said. Despite the pressure, he is excited to create something his fans will love.
Reflecting on his past with “The Hunger Games,” Hutcherson reveals that while he once wanted to move away from it all, he now sees its value. “I’d jump at the chance to reunite with the original cast,” he added, as they’re developing a prequel film based on a recent book. “It would be a dream come true.”
In entertainment, like life, reinventions happen. Hutcherson is living proof that a new chapter can lead to renewed excitement, even in familiar stories.
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Five Nights at Freddy's 2,I Love LA,Josh Hutcherson,The Hunger Games
