Josh Hutcherson Talks About Peeta

Hunger Games Interview with Josh Hutcherson!

Some people disagree with me, but I think the most important character in The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins (for ages 12 and up) is Peeta. Therefore, I also think that the actor who plays Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) has the most important role in The Hunger Games movie (rated PG-13), in theaters March 23. In my eyes, for the movie to really work, Peeta has to be just right. That's why I am so excited to read this interview with Josh talking about Peeta because it sounds like he really gets him. It makes me even more excited to see the movie!

Q: How did you prepare for the role of Peeta, a baker who becomes a fighter? Did you have to train in baking and fighting before the movie?

Josh: [Laughs] Actually, one of the things that drew me to The Hunger Games so much is how much I felt like myself and Peeta had in common. I think we’re very much the same person. We have a very similar outlook on life . . . about being genuine with people. I think that’s something that Peeta always is. He’s very good at working with people. He’s very outgoing, and he really believes in not letting anything change you. You always need to make sure that you are true to yourself and you’re being the truest version of you. For me, that’s kind of how I’ve been throughout the movie business. People can really change you and you can sort of lose who you are. But I’ve always believed in maintaining myself as a person.
As far as preparing for the role, I felt like I was really already there mentally. You know, the books give a lot of insight into the characters, which is really great. So, having that as a reference was awesome. And Suzanne Collins was great. I had a great conversation with her. She asked me if I had any question about motivations, to just give her a call and she would happily talk it out with me.
As far as the baking and fighting goes, I actually love to bake, funnily enough. That’s another thing Peeta and I have in common. I’ve always been into cooking and baking. And with the fighting element, Peeta doesn’t fight a whole lot in the first Hunger Games. So, I didn’t have too much training for that. I did, however, put on 15 pounds of muscle weight for the role to get that beefier, been-lifting-bags-of-flour sort of look. Basically, I was eating a ton of protein and working out every day, lifting a lot of weights and stuff like that. Peeta is “farm boy” kind of strong, so he’s not like the cut surfer model type. He’s a little bulkier and a little bit bigger, so that’s what we were going for with the look.

Q: Do you think Peeta would be a friend of yours in real life?
Josh: I definitely think so. We’d definitely get along because we’d pretty much have the exact same view about life, and our demeanor would be very similar.

What do you think? Isn't he perfect? Leave a Comment! And if The Hunger Games is your favorite book, don't forget to vote for it in the Kids' Choice Awards!

— Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Interview by Marie Morreale

Comments

[Comment #1]

He sounds like the perfect Peeta! I can't wait for the movie!

[Comment #2]

I LOVE HG! I love Josh Hutcherson too:)

[Comment #3]

Peeta's my favorite character! I can't wait for the movie! It's gonna be awesome!

[Comment #4]

Cool. I 'm not old enough to read the book, but I want to. I love your article. : )

[Comment #5]

Sweetness! Awesome, I can't wait till the movie comes out!! The books are my favorite series ever!

[Comment #6]

Peeta me and my friends love u bc ur awesome! even in the hunger games. i tried to get a ticket for the movie but they were sold out. i wish i could c it bc ur the best charater besides Katniss.

[Comment #7]

the book looks better than the movie . the want to be peta is saying becouse its his scripet .

[Comment #8]

this is so cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Comment #9]

ive read the 1st and reading the second they are spetacular. another thing is the b movie souds and looks amzing, last peeta and katniss are my fav charictors.

[Comment #10]

Soooooo excited for the movie! Josh will be great!

[Comment #11]

So cool! I am definatly going to see the movie. I don't know about you, but I am pumped

[Comment #12]

7 more days until the movie! :)
Peeta all the way! I'm surprised that some people like Gale. He caused destruction.
Josh is truly perfect for the role.

[Comment #13]

Peeta's my favorite character, too!
~♥Foreverelephant♥~

[Comment #14]

I LOVE HUNGER GAMES!! I have a BFF name Ella who always reads it!! I SO want to see the movie!!

[Comment #15]

He sounds so cool, I can't wait for the movie. It'll be awesome!!! :)

[Comment #16]

Yus, absolutely. In the movie guide, with all the pictures in it and stuff, (not The Girl On Fire with the essays, though that one is equally brilliant) it says that Suzanne said that if Josh was purple and had wings, she would have said, "Work around the wings! He's that perfect!" (; Amazing. I agree with you, Ms. Collins! Best books EVER!!

[Comment #17]

Josh seems like the perfect Peeta! I can't wait to see him and Jennifer in the movie. This is one of my favorite series ever! It's so weird how Peeta and Josh have the same personality, skills, and basically everything else. I'm so excited and can't wait to see how the movie comes together.

[Comment #18]

swagg

[Comment #19]

swagg

[Comment #20]

i go hard on these streets

[Comment #21]

are you a fan of josh hutcherson

[Comment #22]

i loooove peeta and Josh hutcherson too!I think reading the HungerGames was one of the most amazing expiriences EVER!

[Comment #23]

omg! this is totes amazing! i cannot wait! i dont know why im ending all of my sentences with exclamation points! eeeek! so excited!

[Comment #24]

I think the guy who plays peeta is super cute :)

[Comment #25]

Hey girls, look up hunger games nail polish ideas. Some of them are for the districts. I love the books as much as i loved harry potter, and thats saying something! I'm totally obsessed. Have you heard Taylor Swift's safe and sound with the video? It's sweet!