May the odds ever be in these stars’ favor! Nine years, fans were introduced to the fictional world of Panem when The Hunger Games first hit theaters on March 23, 2012. Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Alexander Ludwig, Willow Shields and more, the film — which spawned two sequels — was based on a book series written by Suzanne Collins.
The entire franchise followed a girl named Katniss Everdeen who was forced to fight for her life in a nationally televised event called the Hunger Games. Each district had to select one person to compete, but when Katniss’ younger sister, Primrose, got chosen, she volunteered herself instead. The competitors were forced to fight against each other since only one could win the competition and survive, but when Katniss fell for another boy in the competition named Peeta Mellark, things got a little complicated.
Despite the on-screen drama, the cast was super close when the cameras stopped rolling. “The truth is, it was literally what everyone saw in all of our interviews together,” Josh told Us Weekly during a September 2020 interview when talking about the stars’ close-knit bond. “It was all of us being ridiculous children together, horsing around. I don’t know how we got any work done ever. I’m surprised the movies are good.”
Even though the movies have since come to an end — the final film premiered in November 2015 — The Hunger Games stars still stay in touch. “We always get together and see each other when we’re in the same place,” Josh also told the publication, noting that “there’s not a Hunger Games group chat.”
Although there’s no continuation for Peeta and Katniss’ story, the actor has an idea of what he would like the characters to be up to now. “I’d like to hope and think that they are living happily and that the world is equal and lovely,” Josh said. “But history is doomed to repeat itself. So I feel like there might be some more unrest that would come along.”
Wondering what else the actor and his costars have been up to since the films franchise officially came to an end? Some went on to nab major movie roles while others started families of their own. Scroll through our gallery to bring on the nostalgia and see where the cast of The Hunger Games is now.
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