Josh Hutcherson is responding to Quentin Tarantino‘s criticism of The Hunger Games.
After the Hateful Eight filmmaker accused author Suzanne Collins of copying the Japanese novel and movie Battle Royale when writing the first installment of her young adult sci-fi novel series, Hutcherson appeared nonplussed by Tarantino’s remarks.
“There are similar themes, for sure,” the actor behind Peeta Mellark admitted to Variety. “But, you know, everyone borrows from everyone.”
Murray Close/Lionsgate
Josh Hutcherson in ‘The Hunger Games’
Tarantino sounded off about the similarities between Battle Royale and The Hunger Games — which both revolve around teenagers murdering each other in a bloody dystopian competition — during a fiery appearance on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast.
“Battle Royale is based on a novel. I do not understand how the Japanese writer didn’t sue Suzanne Collins for every f—ing thing she owns,” Tarantino said in a recent episode of The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast. “They just ripped off the f—ing book!”
Tarantino was not the first to observe the similarities between the two stories, and Collins clarified that she knew nothing about Battle Royale until she had already finished her manuscript for the first Hunger Games.
“I had never heard of that book or that author until my book was turned in,” she told The New York Times in 2011. “At that point, it was mentioned to me, and I asked my editor if I should read it. He said: ‘No, I don’t want that world in your head. Just continue with what you’re doing.'”
Hutcherson played lovable baker Peeta Mellark in the first four Hunger Games films, serving as the primary love interest and arena ally for Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen.
The Hunger Games film series continued with the 2023 prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which chronicled the rise of future President Coriolanus Snow. The franchise will continue in 2026 with Sunrise on the Reaping, a prequel focusing on Haymitch Abernathy.
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“I’m so excited to see the series continue and the amazing cast they’ve gotten for it,” Hutcherson told Variety.
Hutcherson currently stars on Rachel Sennott’s HBO comedy series I Love LA. He can also be seen in the horror sequel Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, which hits theaters on Friday.
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