Josh Hutcherson On Rescuing Puppies, Another Hunger Games Sequel & Child Stardom
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Josh Hutcherson has been a constant in our millennial lives. From tearing our hearts out in Bridge to Terabithia (still reeling from that movie), to making us fall in love with him in The Hunger Games, and becoming a comedy star in I Love LA, is there anything he can’t do? And now, he’s putting his name behind an initiative to save and rescue abandoned animals. We’re swooning. The star is a proud dog dad — or daddy (complimentary!) — and he’s on a mission.
During a visit to a local shelter in LA for Clear The Shelters and Hill’s Pet Nutrition, he sat down with Refinery29 to talk about why he’s so passionate about this cause. “I’m team adopt, don’t shop from personal experience. I [rescued] both of my pitbulls… and they’re incredible,” Hutcherson says. “I think people can sort of overlook the idea of adoption because they think… you don’t know what you’re gonna get [but] the same thing, if not worse, can happen when shopping [for a pet].”
The Five Nights At Freddy’s star adds that there are so many dogs, cats and other animals waiting to find their forever homes in a shelter. His two dogs Driver and Manchi have helped “ground” him, especially after having an unconventional childhood. “Having my dogs has given me so much, and I want other people to able to experience that because life’s just better with a dog or a cat, and you can tackle more problems if you have that grounding force with you.”
I want other people to be able to experience [pet adoption] because life’s just better with a dog or a cat.
There’s been a lot in the media lately about child stars and what growing up too fast can cause, but Hutcherson seems to be well-adjusted and thriving. “I didn’t have a ‘normal childhood’, but that curiosity, that playfulness, that spirit, that’s how I’ve been since I was a kid,” he muses. “And [now] I get to have a job where I get to play in that world and experience that every day on set… I really liked my childhood, and I think that it set me up for a really great life experience that I’m grateful for.”
But while his childhood was great, his movie Bridge To Terabithia scarred many other children growing up. When asked what he has to say to those people, he sighs and apologises dutifully. “Sorry. Sorry!” he says, “many people come up to me today in the streets, and they literally tell me that I traumatised them as children.”
“They went to this movie with their families, thinking that it was going to be this sweet movie with this fantasy world that these kids were building, and things go awry. And so, I’m sorry. Slash, you’re welcome, because I think it’s a great intro into grief.”
It’s heavily rumoured that Hutcherson will be returning to the big screen later this year for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, another film set to traumatise millennials everywhere. “I’m allegedly returning,” he corrects when asked how it felt to be back with Jennifer Lawrence. “It has not been confirmed, so it’s allegedly happening… [reuniting with Lawrence] allegedly would be amazing.”
Sorry! Many people come up to me today in the streets, and they literally tell me that I traumatised them as children.
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“Shooting The Hunger Games was an experience of a lifetime, and you know it was me, Jen, Liam [Hemsworth], Woody [Harrelson], the whole cast, Elizabeth [Banks] for four-ish years making all those movies together… the idea of spending more time with them is very exciting,” he adds. The rumoured cameo from Hutcherson and Lawrence in the new film would be small, but he’s not done with playing Peeta yet. If there were talks about doing a sequel to The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 in the future, the star would be open to jumping on board.
“I would do whatever Suzanne Collins comes up with,” the star declares. “I would happily be back on set playing Peeta in a heartbeat. I think that it has to just come from her whenever she feels [is] the right story or direction to take [it] in.”
At the moment, he’s booked and busy, so any talk of a new Hunger Games will have to be put on hold for now. He’s currently filming I Love LA Season 2 alongside Rachel Sennott and the other cast members. “I can’t wait for people to see [the new season],” he says. “It’s kind of just this nonstop, never-ending tirade of comedy, which is a really fun, fun vibe.”
“Can’t say much else… we wrap [in] October [and] I love being on set with these guys. It’s always a blast,” Hutcherson teases.
If you’re looking to adopt (not shop!), you can check your local ASPCA.
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Originally published at www.refinery29.com.