When Josh Hutcherson was cast as the kindhearted Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games (in theaters March 23), there was a caveat: he had to totally alter his appearance.
"I dyed my hair blonde," the brunette 19-year-old said during a press junket for the film in Beverly Hills March 4. "I had to put on a lot of weight, so I was in the process of eating chicken, eggs and protein and all that fun stuff."
PHOTOS: What to expect in The Hunger Games movie
Hutcherson also exercised with "epic trainer" Logan Hood. "He was this ex-Navy Seal guy who just kicks ass."
Hood, who also worked with Liam Hemsworth, 22, had Hutcherson "flipping tires the parking lot and slamming baseball bats against body bags -- crazy things! It was so unconventional, and you're working muscles you didn't even know you had. You're like, 'How am I possibly this sore?'"
Hutcherson added: "I felt like with Logan, I was sore for four days afterwards, and we worked out five days a week, so I was in a constant state of soreness!"
Hemsworth vouched for his costar, saying: "I worked out with him for an hour and literally I would have to lay down for 20 minutes because I couldn't drive away. It would be dangerous to drive away straight afterwards! I was going to pass out."
For much more on the movie, including 125 gorgeous photos and exclusive interviews, pick up Us Weekly's Hunger Games special -- available on newsstands now. Order it today!
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Better with black hair.
Posted by Coffee & Cigarettes July 10, 2012, 9:48 pm
Wasnt there a patriot games no not the Nfl silly the movie wonder ware they think of these titles might b alright
Posted by Moffi March 22, 2012, 7:43 pm
Cant wait! Im going to go see it tomorrow w my friend n then again next friday because my school rented out a movie theatre for the 9th and 10th graders to all go see it! Can't wait! And josh and liam are perfect for those parts.
Posted by Eminem Lova March 22, 2012, 3:49 pm
cant wait for saturday! my school got an entire movie theater just for our school only to watch THE HUNGER GAMES! Its goin to be epic !^-^
Posted by I <3 Kendall Schmidt March 22, 2012, 3:53 am
He's adorable!! :) and I want to see the hunger games looks cool
Posted by BananaBeak March 22, 2012, 3:05 am
Wow! This movie the buzz is too much it better be gd.
Posted by lyav March 21, 2012, 11:32 pm
Ok I hate to admit it (as a grown woman reading teen lit) but I'm psyched for this movie! I didn't think this guy was right for the role but the trailers are promising. My daughter enjoyed these books and nagged me to read them and I couldn't put them down. They were more fatalistic and dystopian than I would've let her read had I known but she handled it well.
Posted by J&JsMommy March 21, 2012, 8:33 pm
