Josh Hutcherson in Journey 2
The new 3D adventure Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (rated PG) begins when seventeen-year-old Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson) receives a coded distress signal from a mysterious island where no island should exist. Unable to stop him from tracking the signal to its source, Sean's new stepfather, Hank (Dwayne Johnson), joins the quest that will take them first to the South Pacific, and then to a place few people have ever seen . . . or lived to tell about.
Josh Hutcherson was here to tell us a bit more about the movie. (PS. He also talked about his role as Peeta in The Hunger Games, but you will have to wait until March to read that part of the interview!)
Q: Tell me about Sean in Journey 2. How did you prepare for the role?
Josh: Well Sean, I understand, he’s very similar to the same character that was in Journey to the Center of the Earth. But this kind of furthers Sean. He’s a little more adventurous; he’s grown up some. Basically, he’s kind of trapped in this life in Dayton, Ohio, living with his step-dad and his mom. And he wants to be out exploring like he did before. Basically, he gets this radio signal from what he believes to be his grandfather from this place called “the Mysterious Island.” He and his grandfather go there to explore what it’s all about.
Q: The character is adventurous. Do you relate to that part of him?
Josh: Very much so. Sean is very much an extension of who I am. He’s a little more, kind of, gung-ho and younger than I am, but I think that he and I are very much the same in the adventurous aspect. I’m always down to go and try to find some new uncharted place or go backpacking in the mountains or something like that. I’m very much up for an adventure as well.
Q: Did you have to do stunts?
Josh: Yeah, there were quite a few stunts. I mean, almost every day was us having to run through a jungle, or run away from creatures, or find a way to climb down some cliff, or something. There was a lot of physicality involved with this movie.
Q: What is your favorite scene from the movie?
Josh: When we first crash land on the Mysterious Island, the way it was shot was sort of ominous looking and mysterious, and we didn’t really know what was going on. I like the way that was done a lot, and I actually saw it cut together. It looks really cool. That was definitely my favorite scene.
Q: What would your dream trip or vacation be?
Josh: Oh man. . . About a year and a half ago, I actually took a road trip across the country with my friends, and we just sort of took our time and went camping actually the whole way across. That was really great, but I’m all about trying to find something that nobody’s every really found before. So, any kind of hiking, backpacking sort of trip is definitely something that I’m up for.
Q: Did you know your costar, Vanessa Hudgens, before the film? Josh: No. I had met her a couple of times at random events, but I never actually hung out with her before. But we hit it off right away. We’re super close and we’re virtually the same person. We’re both very outgoing and adventurous. We’re both always down to have a good time and make the best out of any situation. So, we got along very well.
Q: Do you have any tricks to establishing a rapport with your co-stars, particularly when it’s going to be a romantic angle?
Josh: Not really, I just sort of fly by the seat of my pants. I always try to be myself as much as possible. That’s one of my core beliefs as a person. I think that’s what transcends into my friendships. If you’re really straightforward and honest and genuine with people . . . Those are the people I usually gravitate towards, so I figured if I’m like that, hopefully, they’ll return the favor and be genuine and real with me too.
Q: Why do you think people are going to like this movie?
Josh: It’s a really fun adventure. From start to finish, you’re always wondering what’s going to happen next. There’s a little bit of peril; you’re rooting for these characters to make it through. Also the character arcs some of the characters take are really great. Especially Sean and his stepfather, because when they first go on the trip, they are kind of butting heads and they’re at odds. By the end, they really come together, and I think that that’s a story people will be able to relate to very well.
It sounds totally fun and adventure-y! It comes to theaters on February 10. Will you be going to see it? Leave a Comment to tell us what you think. AND, come back here on March 23 to read Josh's thoughts about being Peeta!
— Interview by Marie Morreale
he is C!!UTE
Comment #51 | Posted by: chattypink59 on February 25, 2012 at 06:45 AM
I love the hunger games! It's so exciting and Josh Hutcherson is good looking!
Comment #52 | Posted by: Wonder on February 26, 2012 at 07:51 PM
I want to see this movie but I really want to whatch the hunger games even more. I think josh is a great actor.
Comment #53 | Posted by: julia on February 27, 2012 at 05:34 PM
dogcake127 I read the series of the hunger games five times i'm reading it again
Comment #54 | Posted by: julia on February 27, 2012 at 05:35 PM
I saw the movie and LOVED it! Some of it may be because Josh Hutcherson is in it :)
Comment #55 | Posted by: P on February 28, 2012 at 07:20 PM
BEST MOVIE EVER IT WAS SO COOOOOOOOOOOOL!!
Comment #56 | Posted by: dolphincat76 on February 29, 2012 at 10:04 AM
I haven't seen it yet but totally going to see it this weekend! Looks so adventurous! Also Vanessa Hudgens is in it! Not tlike that really matters
Comment #57 | Posted by: gymnasticshurricane3 on February 29, 2012 at 06:13 PM
Oh MY GOSH!!!!!! I was so con-fused like oMG. Plus it is "read" not "red" hunger games. I was stoked when it started but the movie was el-creepo-peepo. It is amazing what people will do for money. PS I attend private school.
Comment #58 | Posted by: ablebird22 on February 29, 2012 at 07:08 PM
IF IT'S NOT TWILIGHT... OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH MY
GGGGOOOSHHHH. PEOPLE COME ON
THERE SHOULD BE MORE VAMPIRE
MOVIES. GET IT. OMG!!!!
Comment #59 | Posted by: Dawn on March 01, 2012 at 06:44 PM
I like how little things are big and big things are little.
Comment #60 | Posted by: sebastian on March 02, 2012 at 09:21 AM
this was a good movie you should make a book
Comment #61 | Posted by: cameron on March 02, 2012 at 09:50 AM
this is one of my favorite movies
Comment #62 | Posted by: collin on March 02, 2012 at 09:51 AM
i love the movie
Comment #63 | Posted by: fightingdrawing11 on March 02, 2012 at 09:53 AM
I want to see the movie. It looks really good from the commercials. I can't wait to see it because it is also in 3-D
Comment #64 | Posted by: basketballhockey6 on March 02, 2012 at 09:55 AM
i saw it it was awsome.
Comment #65 | Posted by: tk on March 02, 2012 at 09:55 AM
omg i loved that movie it was soo good
Comment #66 | Posted by: hannah m on March 02, 2012 at 03:01 PM
he is sooo cute also
Comment #67 | Posted by: hannah m on March 02, 2012 at 03:01 PM
I was so stoked to see the movie and since I am home schooled we went on valentines day and it was AWSOME!!!!!!!!!But I chickend out when I saw that giant spider and made me spill half of my nerds!But it was still AWSOME!It is a must see!
Comment #68 | Posted by: bulldogangel16 on March 02, 2012 at 07:09 PM
I have not read the hunger games but can't wait to!Loved journey 2!
Comment #69 | Posted by: soccermonkey44 on March 03, 2012 at 04:09 PM
WOW!!!!!
He is so much CUTER now and all grown up since the past few year`s.
Comment #70 | Posted by: DolphinOrange64 on March 03, 2012 at 06:19 PM
he is sooooo cute and i loved the movie
Comment #71 | Posted by: hannah on March 03, 2012 at 09:51 PM
i like journey 2
Comment #72 | Posted by: soccermonkey44 on March 04, 2012 at 04:57 PM
i like journey2
Comment #73 | Posted by: dolphinfrost17 on March 04, 2012 at 05:01 PM
OMG I LOVE JOSH HUTCHERSON HE IS UPER CUTE CANT WAIT FOR THE HUNGER GAMES TEAM #PEETE I LOVED THE MOVIE JOURNEY 2:MYSTERIES ISLAND IT AS EPIC IN 3D
Comment #74 | Posted by: meanKITTY on March 07, 2012 at 03:36 PM
JH is sooooooooooo cute!!!!!
Comment #75 | Posted by: sabrina :) on March 07, 2012 at 06:10 PM