EW writer Nicole Sperling sat down with the three for a raucous, memory-filled roundtable.
From sleepovers to Donald Trump, here’s that unvarnished conversation from 2015, featuring the tight-knit trio.
So, most important question first: How’s the movie?
Josh Hutcherson, Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth at the 2012 Los Angeles premiere of ‘The Hunger Games’.Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty
LIAM HEMSWORTH:I think it’s probably the best one.
You’re not just saying that because you are in it so much more?
[Laughs] Maybe a little bit.
Liam Hemsworth, Jennifer Lawrence, and Josh Hutcherson sign autographs for fans at Westfield Century City on March 3, 2012.Jesse Grant/Getty
But it’s start-to-finish exciting.
Part 1 was setting up this battle.
And now it feels like you’re in the middle of it the whole time.
Josh Hutcherson, Jennifer Lawrence, and Liam Hemsworth at 2015 San Diego Comic-Con.Kevin Winter/Getty
JOSH HUTCHERSON:All these moving pieces finally come to a head in this one movie.
[Jennifer Lawrence arrives.
Takes a swig of Hemsworth’s vodka and soda.]
Liam Hemsworth with fans at the 2015 ‘Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2’ world premiere in Berlin.Isa Foltin/Getty
JENNIFER LAWRENCE:Hey, guys.
Oh, how refreshing.
I love club soda and lime.
Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence at the 2012 Los Angeles premiere of ‘The Hunger Games’.
Liam was just telling us this is his favorite movie because he gets more screen time.
LAWRENCE:It is quite a coincidence.
More Liam, could it be?
It’s a valid question.
I want to take you all back to the first film.
At what point did you realizeThe Hunger Gameswas going to be massive?
HEMSWORTH:As soon as we started the press tour for the first film.
It was like a good punch in the face.
LAWRENCE:There were just so many people.
I was just like, “Oh, f—!”
LAWRENCE:“They must be having a Twilight event.”
What was worrying you?
HEMSWORTH:That was smart.
HUTCHERSON:I didn’t do that.
LAWRENCE:Well, girls are smarter than boys.
HUTCHERSON:You mature faster.
You’re not smarter….
I just didn’t think it through.
How did you keep that from happening?
LAWRENCE:I just didn’t stop working.
HEMSWORTH:I think you also can’t be afraid of something like that.
LAWRENCE:Au contraire.
I think it’s pretty legit to be afraid of something like that.
Also, never make a decision out of fear.
LAWRENCE:[Mocking him] “Also, never make a decision out of fear.
Do you remember when you realized you’d be friends and not just co-workers?
LAWRENCE:If we had met each other in any different circumstance, we would still be best friends.
There’s no fear in our love.
HEMSWORTH:Don’t make decisions based on fear.
[Laughs]
What was it like when the first movie became a cultural phenomenon?
LAWRENCE:You’re not a part of the cultural phenomenon.
You’re separated from it.
So for me, that’s not real.
It seems so strange.
LAWRENCE:It’s like you’re an avatar of yourself.
Did this level of fame change your lives dramatically?
HUTCHERSON:I don’t think they changed dramatically.
There are some elements that you have to adjust.
HEMSWORTH:It’s not that extreme.
You have moments, obviously, where people notice you.
[To Lawrence] How do you feel about that?
All of sudden I didn’t feel a part of humanity in this weird way.
Now I just don’t have the energy for that anymore.
I’ve got such a great life and such a great job.
There are some s—ty things that come along with it, but you know, whatever.
HEMSWORTH:Yeah, at the end of the day you’re free to’t control it anyway.
LAWRENCE:Do you guys want to have a sleepover tonight, yes or no?
HEMSWORTH:I don’t have all my stuff.
It changed the conversation.”
How often do you have sleepovers?
LAWRENCE:Off and on.
[Laughter] Often enough.
Don’t write about that.
It might be taken the wrong way.
How should it be taken?
LAWRENCE:Well, we have sex with each other.
But people can understand when you’re joking, can’t they?
LAWRENCE:I don’t really think they can.
HEMSWORTH:I’ll bavck you upon that.
HUTCHERSON:It’s a publicity stunt.
It can’t be real.
And I’m thinking, “You are absolutely right.
That’s who I want representing my country, somebody politically incorrect.
That will just be perfect.”
You shot the last two films back-to-back.
Was there one scene in that epic 152-day period that you were most anxious to film?
How was your aim?
LAWRENCE:It was CGI, so let’s just say I nailed it.
HEMSWORTH:You were particularly nervous about the singing scene [from Part 1].
We all know that.
HUTCHERSON:It’s so stupid.
You’re such a great singer.
HEMSWORTH:She was so worried about it, I assumed that she must have a bad voice.
And she did it, and I’m like, “Jen, it’s actually good.”
She’s like, “Shut up!”
LAWRENCE:I only snapped at you because who else was I gonna snap at?
HEMSWORTH:No, I know.
I’m your punching bag, man.
Don’t worry about it.
LAWRENCE:But I can never be yours.
Don’t you dare start thinking that’s a two-way street.
HUTCHERSON:For me it was the scene where Peeta had to freakout and lose his mind.
And then they say “Action.”
You’re like, “Ah!”
And you just kind of do it.
LAWRENCE:But that’s always when you do your best, because then you’re not thinking.
Did you take anything from the set on the last day?
HUTCHERSON:OnCatching FireI took the little locket that Peeta gives to Katniss.
LAWRENCE:I’ve always wanted that.
I have bows, and I took a Mockingjay pin.
I want the orange backpack from the first movie, but it’s in the museum right now.
HUTCHERSON:The Hunger Gamesexhibition they opened in New York.
LAWRENCE:I made my own museum.
It’s like Dollywood, but it’s called Jennifer Lawrenceville.
HUTCHERSON:We’re still working on the name.
After all these movies together, what was the last day of filming like?
LAWRENCE:It was so emotional that I was completely dead inside.
I felt really weird.
HEMSWORTH:I was drunk.
What impact do you think this franchise has had beyond being just entertainment?
LAWRENCE:It’s an action movie with a woman in the lead that men want to go see.
It changed the conversation.
Nobody can deny that.
HUTCHERSON:It does break a lot of stereotypes as far as what these blockbuster movies tend to be.
LAWRENCE:I would like to think that it has had a 1 percent impact on social change.
HUTCHERSON:One percent?
That would be a great amount for one film to do.
LAWRENCE:Well, I’m trying to be modest.
Whatever number modest would be.
HUTCHERSON:I don’t know.
LAWRENCE:We sound like idiots.
But you know what?
HUTCHERSON:By the way, that is the closing quote for the article.
[Laughter]
You canbuyEntertainment Weekly’s The Ultimate Guide to The Hunger Gameshere, or on newsstands.
