Forget the arena—Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson faced a battle, and this one wasn’t in the Capitol. Right after the success of The Hunger Games, the two stars didn’t just volunteer as tribute; they nearly walked out of the franchise. The reason? A paycheck showdown that had them ready to throw their bows.
Here’s the tea: According to Radar Online, when Catching Fire rolled around, Jennifer Lawrence’s salary went from $500K to a blazing $10 million. Naturally, Hemsworth and Hutcherson, playing Panem’s other essential heartthrobs, wanted their slice of the cash pie. Who could blame them? The first movie made bank, and their characters—Gale Hawthorne and Peeta Mellark—were more than sidekicks.
But it wasn’t about matching J-Law’s golden ticket. The outlet mentioned above claimed the duo demanded $5 million each—less than half of Jennifer’s cut but leagues above their original deal. They felt their work was worth more, and their leverage was a simple yet gutsy threat: pay up, or we’re out.
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And honestly, who could imagine Panem without them? Gale’s smoldering glances? Peeta’s bread-tossing loyalty? Without the coal, The Hunger Games would’ve been like District 12 without this bromance.
Still, they knew better than to challenge Katniss. Jennifer was the face of the rebellion (and the franchise), and both actors acknowledged her importance. This wasn’t a mutiny—it was a calculated move for fairness. And given how The Hunger Games was printing money, it wasn’t exactly a shot in the dark.
For Hemsworth and Hutcherson, the stakes were high. Hutcherson had already won hearts in Bridge to Terabithia, and Hemsworth had his moment in The Last Song alongside Miley Cyrus. But The Hunger Games was their golden ticket to mega stardom, and the idea of leaving couldn’t have been easy.
Eventually, the studio saw the light and sorted things out. Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson returned for Catching Fire, delivering the Gale-and-Peeta drama fans lived for. The sequel smashed box office records, proving that keeping this trio together was a win for everyone.
Behind the scenes, though, it’s a classic Hollywood saga: blockbuster success, rising stars, and a paycheck tug-of-war. It’s easy to forget that the entertainment biz is still a business under all the Capitol glitz.
In the end, cooler heads (and deeper wallets) prevailed. The boys stayed, the franchise thrived, and fans got the fiery sequels they deserved. But for a hot second, the odds didn’t feel so “ever in their favor.”
For more such stories, check out Hollywood News.
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The post Liam Hemsworth & Josh Hutcherson Wanted To Leave The Hunger Games Over Pay Dispute? Here’s What We Know appeared first on Koimoi.