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Josh Hutcherson Says Post–Hunger Games Slump Taught Him Rejection as New Roles Reignite His Drive

He says years of failed auditions after the franchise gave way to renewed confidence from recent roles.

Overview

  • Speaking on Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s Dinner’s On Me podcast, Hutcherson said he “knew only success” from age 9 until his mid‑20s and first felt “disappointment, failure, rejection” around 24–25.
  • He recalled a stretch of “no one calling,” with auditions not leading to roles even after being told he had “arrived” during The Hunger Games era.
  • Hutcherson criticized the industry dynamic in which franchise fame signals momentum that can evaporate quickly.
  • Entertainment reporting highlights a sharp slowdown after the franchise, noting five films in 2012 versus five total between 2018 and 2023.
  • He cites HBO’s I Love L.A. and the box office-topping Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 as restoring his drive, and he says he would rejoin The Hunger Games team “in a heartbeat.”