Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson addresses Peeta's "silly" rock camouflage scene: "Why didn't someone stop it?"

With the second Hunger Games prequel ready to hit theaters later this year, the franchise is having a sort of resurgence, which has led star Josh Hutcherson to address the scene that turned him into an internet meme.

Those who have seen the first Hunger Games movie will remember the unforgettable scene where Peeta evades the other contestants by camouflaging himself to blend into a boulder. Although we saw the baker boy showcase his painting talents in earlier training sessions, fans were still a little confused as to how Peeta was able to pull off such artistry in the arena.

Hutcherson thinks the whole situation is pretty "silly" as he tried to raise his concerns over the scene while filming. "I was like, 'Look, I know this dude's a baker, but how is he doing this? Baking sourdough is not painting. How the fuck did he do that?'" said Hutcherson in an interview with GQ. "Why didn't someone stop it? There are so many people who could have stopped it. They let it happen to me. I just lay there."

However, the camouflage goof isn't enough to taint Hutcherson's love for the franchise. "I could talk all day about Hunger Games. I think [they] are amazing books. They're fantastic movies. They stand for something important and real."

Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence are set to reprise their roles as Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen in the upcoming prequel movie The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The new movie is set 24 years before the first Hunger Games movie, when the duo's mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, took part in the 50th Games.

With the movie being set so long ago, Peeta and Katniss will no doubt return in a flash-forward scene (which is what happens in the book). Sunrise on the Reaping's retro setting also means that we will get to see younger versions of the characters we know and love from the original saga, who have been recast. The movie stars Joseph Zada as Haymitch, Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket, Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, and more.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping hits theaters on November 20, 2026. For more, check out our list of the most exciting upcoming movies in 2025 and beyond, or, check out our list of movie release dates.