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After ‘The Hunger Games,’ Josh Hutcherson Got the Second Act He Always Wanted With ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s

2025-12-03 17:00
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After ‘The Hunger Games,’ Josh Hutcherson Got the Second Act He Always Wanted With ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s

Josh Hutcherson looks back on his journey to leading roles in The Hunger Games and Five Nights at Freddy's, and his passion for directing.

After ‘The Hunger Games,’ Josh Hutcherson Got the Second Act He Always Wanted With ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s Josh Hutcherson photographed by Yellowbelly for Collider in Los Angeles at the Universal Studios Lot on November 17, 2025. Josh Hutcherson photographed by Yellowbelly for Collider in Los Angeles at the Universal Studios Lot on November 17, 2025.Photography by Yellowbelly for Collider

The 33-year-old ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ star reflects on his child-star success, The Hunger Games, unfathomable fame, directing, and more.

4 By  Emily Bernard Published 33 minutes ago

Emily Bernard is a Features Editor and Peer Mentor for Collider who studied History, Playwriting, and English at the University of Scranton. She’s a proud comedy nerd who loves getting into the nitty gritty of a joke and how it came to be, and she's interviewed several of her favorite comedians, including Tig Notaro, Hannah Einbinder, John Early, Julio Torres, Patton Oswalt, Aidy Bryant, and Please Don’t Destroy. Emily’s not totally sure how she feels about this whole "writing in the third person" thing, but it sounds more professional, so she's going to stick with it.

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“It’s kind of a funny thing,” Josh Hutcherson says, after I ask him how his day of press has been going so far. The actor, who is promoting the second installment in the Five Nights at Freddy’s film franchise, has just wrapped the morning talk show circuit during his stop in New York City. "They’re all very clean and positive and nice," he explains in an over-the-top, everything-is-great tone, addressing the unspoken, manufactured authenticity that goes into doing press for a project. "No hiccups. I didn’t say anything I shouldn’t, so that's a big success for me," he laughs.

There is a sense of relief and immediate vulnerability to Hutcherson that only grows as our conversation goes on. For someone who has been acting consistently since he was about 8 years old, it’s no surprise that he is used to this whole process by now. Still, he seems to be at a level of contentment and ease that most people — of any profession, at any age — strive for.

This is not something that happened overnight, but rather, is the result of surviving years of experiences that so few people — even within the industry — will ever be able to relate to, not to mention a level of intense fame that, understandably, would’ve spelled disaster for many in his position. Remarkably, he emerged from the other side of childhood and teen stardom (looking at you, Hunger Games) with a level of maturity, honesty, and curiosity that is as intriguing as it is refreshing, engaging as it is exciting. Hutcherson is an artist with a lot to say — and isn’t afraid to say it candidly.

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Hutcherson Heard You Loud and Clear: 'Five Nights at Freddy's 2' Is Way Scarier Than the Original

Before going back to the beginning of Hutcherson's career, all the way to his Kentucky and Oakwood Apartment days, we jump into Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 — the movie he’s making the rounds promoting. There’s a level of lore and intense fandom for the online horror survival game-turned-film franchise that the average moviegoer might not realize — so big, in fact, that Hutcherson was "warned" about what he was getting into if he signed on to the project.

"I think, truthfully, when this came to me, I didn’t fully realize how big FNAF was," he explains. (He says "FNAF" – pronounced as "Eff-naff" – with such ease, a clear sign of how much he’s embraced his role in this fun horror world.) "It’s a world of gaming I’m not really part of, so it was a whole culture I knew nothing about."

The horror game, chock-full of jump scares and nightmare fuel, follows Mike Schmidt, a down-on-his-luck security guard with one goal: to survive his shift at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. A midnight to 6:00 a.m. gig might sound easy, but not when you are under the constant threat of murderous animatronics that haunt the dark, abandoned halls of the once-lively pizza joint. Given the unfathomable degree of fame and attention he endured during the Hunger Games, especially, it’s surprising to hear how willing he would be to enter that sort of arena again. For him, though, those consequences weren't something that would impact his decision.

"I didn’t hesitate in that regard because I was excited to make the movies. I liked the idea inside of them. I liked Emma Tammi, the director, a lot. I’ve always loved Blumhouse and a lot of the stuff they do. I also don’t really think of those consequences of jumping into a big thing," Hutcherson admits, before casually adding, "If I like it, I want to do it. If I don’t like it, I don’t want to do it."

The 2023 adaptation of Scott Cawthorn’s games made a staggering $291 million at the worldwide box office off a fairly modest budget of $20 million. When I ask Hutcherson if he was shocked at all by the film’s success, he says, without hesitation, that he "definitely" was, and that "Jason Blum may have been the only one that wasn’t at all surprised." After all, the Blumhouse founder, according to Hutcherson, spent around a decade working to secure the rights to the franchise. "I think all of us were hopeful, but not expecting anything like it did."

Hutcherson plays the main role of the security guard Mike, who tries to make ends meet while raising his little sister, Abby, played by Piper Rubio. My first thought while watching Five Nights at Freddy’s — especially after revisiting so much of Hutcherson’s entire filmography — was how perfectly he transitioned into the role of a "protector" after years of being a child actor often surrounded by so many adults. "I remembered how incredible it was for me when I was on set, and someone older took me under their wing, or someone really gave me the space to just exist, and they treated me like an adult," Hutcherson now muses. "To be able to have that experience where I’m the older person, and Piper, who plays my sister — not that she needed advice or anything like that, but just to treat her with respect and show her the way… it was very cool for me."

There was a shorthand and overall comfort on the set of Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 that helped everything click into place. Aside from the familiarity and back-to-summer-camp feel built into a sequel, there was also a much bigger budget of $51 million. But more money also meant higher expectations and pressure, which Hutcherson took very seriously. The new movie sees the return of Elizabeth Lail’s Vanessa, revealed in the first film to be the daughter of William Afton (Matthew Lillard), who — spoiler alert — is the serial killer behind those child murders (including Mike’s brother, Garrett) all those years ago. (Their souls are what possess and bring to life the freaky mascot-like creatures on a perpetual murder spree in the pizzeria.)

"I remembered how incredible it was for me when I was on set, and someone older took me under their wing, or someone really gave me the space to just exist, and they treated me like an adult."

The end of the first film leads you to believe that William has been left for dead in the massive Yellow Rabbit suit, but the new film’s trailer shows he somehow survived that fateful night. He’s joined by newcomers to the franchise McKenna Grace and Skeet Ulrich, the latter of whom offered the opportunity for a fun Scream reunion on set between two of the original film's killers. "They’re both such good guys," Hutcherson admitted. "Skeet was a great actor and brought such an intensity to his role. We have a pretty big, pivotal scene in the movie."

Hutcherson is very much tuned into the world of the horror series, but when it came time to prepare, he avoided all lore and any backstory for his character. "I decided early on that my construction of Mike was going to be solely based on the scripts and the movies and what we talked about amongst Emma, myself, and Scott, the game creator. I didn’t dive into any of the game lore to understand anything deeper about Mike because I don’t want to know things that I shouldn’t know. I think it’s better to let it live in this universe of the Freddy’s film world."

Hutcherson doesn't just understand and respect the fandom; he also wants to deliver a quality end product. It’s easy for an actor to skirt past a film’s flaws or missteps, but he doesn’t hesitate to elaborate now on what he feels the first film could’ve done better. "The first movie, it should’ve been scarier. It could’ve been scarier. I think that was sort of a feeling that a lot of the fans had as well. They loved it, obviously, but they kind of wished it was a bit scarier."

By his own admission, however, Hutcherson needs to understand the "how" and the "why" of every beat of a story, every motivation, every reason. This is, admittedly, a tall order for a franchise like FNAF. "It’s so weird and illogical sometimes. I try to be a very logical person, so I’m wanting to understand fully, like, ‘Okay, what does this mean? Why this? Why that?’ In Freddy’s world, sometimes you have to let go of that and just go with the vibe. Lean into the weirdness." That kookiness includes a lot of Easter eggs for diehard fans, especially in the sequel. "We just wanted to make something that the fans could really, really sink their teeth into."

How a 9-Year-Old Hutcherson Convinced His Parents To Let Him Try Acting

Josh Hutcherson photographed by Yellowbelly for Collider in Los Angeles at the Universal Studios Lot on November 17, 2025. Josh Hutcherson photographed by Yellowbelly for Collider in Los Angeles at the Universal Studios Lot on November 17, 2025.Photography by Yellowbelly for Collider

At this point in the conversation, we detour to his early years in Kentucky, where this movie star fantasy of Hutcherson’s was originally just that. He had no ties to Hollywood, and no idea where to start. What he did have, though, was a lot of determination. "I got out a phone book and looked up 'acting.'" His parents, understandably, didn’t quite know what to do with this elusive dream of his, thinking (and perhaps, hoping) that this was just a phase, or something he would grow out of. It wasn’t that they weren’t supportive — actually, quite the opposite. They just didn’t really know where to begin.

"They’re like, 'I don’t have any fucking idea.'" It's a likely exaggeration of the interaction, given that Hutcherson was about 9 years old when he first brought up his dream. "'They’re probably in Hollywood, and they make a movie. Maybe when you’re older, you can try it.'"

But Hutcherson, he reveals, took matters into his own hands. "I called the agency myself when I was nine, and I told them I wanted to be in movies." The agency, upon hearing an adorable little voice on the other end, told him that his parents would have to step in. Frustrated, but determined, Hutcherson nudged his parents again. "Clearly, this kid is stubborn, and he’s not going to stop," he says now, almost amused. His parents did what any supportive parents would do and let him lean into his interests. Not only would this allow him to express himself, but it confirmed for Hutcherson that he was heading in the right direction.

After a few sessions, even the acting coach was convinced he was destined for success — so much so that he told Hutcherson's parents they should take him to California for pilot season. "I think this kid has a chance of making it," were the magic words that his parents couldn’t deny, and Hutcherson and his mom packed up the family car and headed to California. The actor recounts this life-changing moment with wonder, awe, and appreciation, given the risks of the decision and that the odds were — no pun intended — not in his favor. "The craziest thing," Hutcherson reflects, "is that my mom, who was younger than I am now, got in a car with me at nine and drove to LA to try to pursue this."

"I called the agency myself when I was nine, and I told them I wanted to be in movies."

Not only did the pre-teen try, but he also thrived — right away. Upon arrival at the famous Oakwood Apartments, where many child actor hopefuls and their parents call home in between auditions and callbacks, he started booking jobs instantly. Part of this success and confidence could be traced back to his relationship with his eccentric grandfather. In another interview, Hutcherson describes in great detail exactly how unique and offbeat he was. It’s at this point in our conversation that I search for a way to bring his grandfather up, and Hutcherson notices my carefulness and puts me out of my misery.

"He was the weirdo," he laughs. "You can say it. Capital W." According to the actor, he’d walk to the beat of his own drum, constantly breaking the mold, and certainly not caring what people thought about him. More than anything else, he taught his grandson how to think and was "always questioning everything," whether it be "the system" or the patriarchy. "Seeing someone who goes and walks the walk of doing things against the norm, I think, was really a big, big influence on me." Thinking without limitations and always being curious were philosophies his parents would put their weight behind, and would certainly serve Hutcherson well down the road.

Jon Favreau Encouraged Hutcherson's Ambitious Directing Dreams

Josh Hutcherson photographed by Yellowbelly for Collider in Los Angeles at the Universal Studios Lot on November 17, 2025. Josh Hutcherson photographed by Yellowbelly for Collider in Los Angeles at the Universal Studios Lot on November 17, 2025.Photography by Yellowbelly for Collider

Of course, at the time, young Hutcherson missed his father and brother, who stayed in Kentucky. But the family made a concerted effort to never go more than three weeks without being together. This was his way of life for seven years. This wasn’t seven years of struggling or close calls booking a gig, but seven years of constant success. If it seemed like Hutcherson had a project coming out every year in the early 2000s, it’s because he did.

As early as 2002, he booked a spot on ER, followed by main or supporting roles in major movies. The Polar Express in 2004 was followed by Kicking & Screaming with Will Ferrell and Robert Duvall in 2005, along with Zathura: A Space Adventure, and Little Manhattan — all in the same year. On paper, this sounds like a dream come true, and in many obvious ways, it was. But Hutcherson knew he was an anomaly.

"The normal way that things go is that you struggle and you get told no, time and time again. If you’re lucky, you get a big break, and then that can lead to other things. My story was different. From the very beginning, I knew I was meant to be an actor. I never doubted it. I started booking things immediately, which was incredible," he details, before quickly adding that it was also dangerous. "You don’t learn rejection that way. You don’t learn how to handle that."

Rejection wasn’t part of Hutcherson’s vocabulary. At least, not then. On the set of Zathura, directed by Jon Favreau and co-starring a then-unknown Kristen Stewart, the young actor’s burning passion for directing wasn’t just entertained — it was encouraged. Favreau was a big kid on set — a mindset that would stick with Hutcherson much later. The movie, while it didn’t leave a mark at the box office, was hugely formative. "That shoot was amazing in so many ways. It was a very technical shoot. A lot of practical effects, a lot of complex camera sequences."

Hutcherson played Walter, the tough, no-nonsense older brother to co-star Jonah Bobo’s meek Danny, both of whom end up on a space adventure when the board game they play comes to life. One could argue that Zathura is one of the best displays of Hutcherson’s adept acting ability. Walter starts as a bit of an arrogant jerk, hilariously barking, "Get me a juice box, bee-otch," to the robot that enters their lives, and blames Danny for their parents’ divorce. But a key scene between the two actors toward the movie’s end peels back Walter’s tough exterior, with Hutcherson impressively delivering a moving monologue that conveys the love he has for his brother that he’s struggled to express the entire movie.

But nothing could top what he learned from Favreau. "One thing I really learned from Jon was never to lose your sense of being a kid. Never lose your curiosity, your excitement for the world. Don’t become jaded," he says. "When we shot that movie, he felt like a big kid. He was so excited about how the effects were going to work or how cool the set looked. That kind of excitement was very present inside of him."

Aside from creating an inventive, limitless space of creativity, the director also took his budding interest in directing to heart. "Here’s the camera. Go shoot behind-the-scenes stuff. I want you to get me this, this, and this today," Hutcherson fondly remembers. "It’s cool just remembering back to how good that made me feel as a kid and what that instilled in me." He doesn't skip a beat as he methodically recounts every detail that went into the production that had multiple moving parts. "That was all done practically. Very little green screen. The house set was built on a gimbal rig that could tilt the entire 5,000 square foot house into a 45-degree angle."

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When I bring up the range he had at such a young age, he doesn’t light up at the compliment so much as turn it over, looking for the bigger idea inside it. He pauses, eyes unfocused for a moment, like he’s scrolling back through people he’s known before thoughtfully answering. "Just as humans, we are so many things. We are assholes. We are kind people. I just think that all of it is real. For me, Walter had all of that in him." His emotional awareness cannot be overstated, seeping into several facets of his life as a sort of superpower.

This would come in handy, particularly for Bridge to Terabithia, the 2007 Disney movie about embracing your imagination and getting outside your comfort zone. Calling it a "children’s movie" feels dismissive, even though it shouldn’t. After all, it’s those very films that can sometimes pack the hardest and heaviest emotional punch. Bridge to Terabithia, which he co-starred in with AnnaSophia Robb, will hit you like a ton of bricks, partly due to a shocking twist in the second half, and in how Hutcherson masterfully reckons with the consequences as Jesse. It’s a type of family movie that isn’t made anymore. When asked if he knew at the time that he was giving such a defining performance, he says that it is not something he fixates on. He "thankfully never" felt the need to put an unhealthy "over importance" on any one project — especially as a kid — and isn’t thinking about anything other than wanting to do his best and work as a team. "That’s really the end of the thought."

Hutcherson also seamlessly draws a line to Lisa Cholodenko’s 2010 dramedy The Kids Are All Right, which follows Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore), a lesbian couple and parents to his character, Laser and Joni (Mia Wasikowska), two children they’ve raised via sperm donor. "If there was a project where I felt nervous, it was probably on that one." The film, which premiered at Sundance, had an artistic bent to it (something new to Hutcherson’s career at the time) and was positioned in such a way in his filmography that, if he pulled it off, he would prove he had what it takes to transition into more adult roles.

"Funny story," he teases, before proceeding to explain how he had no idea the movie was a comedy. He was devastated when the Sundance crowd started laughing, with thoughts running through his mind like, "Fuck! Fuck! This is an important movie about a lesbian relationship that is totally amazing and beautiful, and people are laughing!" Thankfully, the director assured him that laughs, though a heavy movie at times, were the goal. As for Bening and Moore? He was completely starstruck. "I remember them always being very in the moment." Moore, who would later reunite with him in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, commented on the set that has stuck with him in a weirdly comforting way. "She said something like, 'Oh, I just keep waiting between every job that they’re going to realize that I’m a terrible actor and never hire me again.'"

Hutcherson is knocked a little sideways by how Moore sees herself; as he retells it, his voice tightens as if trying to steady himself. "To realize that Julianne Moore, who’s just untouchable and just a phenomenal, next-level actress, also feels that insecurity of this fickle, weird thing in this industry? Well, shit, if she can feel that way, I can definitely feel that way."

‘The Hunger Games’ Gave Hutcherson a Friend, but the Franchise Was Not Easy

Josh Hutcherson photographed by Yellowbelly for Collider in Los Angeles at the Universal Studios Lot on November 17, 2025. Josh Hutcherson photographed by Yellowbelly for Collider in Los Angeles at the Universal Studios Lot on November 17, 2025.Photography by Yellowbelly for Collider

Like everyone who adores the franchise, I have a vivid memory of when the Hunger Games franchise took over — well, everything. Magazines. Talk shows. Posters and billboards everywhere. Hutcherson, Jennifer Lawrence, and Liam Hemsworth had a hit franchise on their hands — but also a spotlight on them constantly. Hutcherson had an impressive filmography under his belt already, but booking the role of Peeta Mellark for 2012’s The Hunger Games catapulted him to a different level. His soon-to-be partner-in-crime, Lawrence, had her impressive turn in Winter’s Bone to her name, but otherwise, this dystopian franchise introduced the now Academy Award-winner to the world.

When asked if he gave Lawrence any advice on how to handle the intense fame, he quips, "I don’t think Jen takes advice." While we are both laughing very hard, he adds,"I think she’s just a person who’s going to do what she’s going to do, in the most amazing way." The love and respect he has for her runs deep, with him sharing a sweet what-are-the-odds story of how they connected back in 2010 at an awards show, when he had The Kids Are All Right, and she had Winter’s Bone. She saw an ad in their local newspaper (they’re both from Kentucky) and showed it to her parents as proof of how someone can make it. Nothing, though, would prepare them for what’s ahead.

The first film, based on Suzanne Collins’ dystopian book series, made $694 million worldwide on a $78 million budget. (The franchise, in total, has made $3.3 billion.) Hutcherson’s Peeta, the male tribute from District 12, alongside Lawrence’s Katniss, would go on to compete in the annual Hunger Games — a competition in which children ages 12 to 18 fight to the death. He, Hemsworth, and Lawrence, "linked arms and blew up in that together in a way you can’t be prepared for," he says. From other interviews gathered, his privacy and having a life far removed from the industry are among his biggest priorities, so when I reached for the word "resent," it felt harsh — but it was still the clearest way to get at what I was trying to ask: Did Josh Hutcherson ever resent being Peeta?

"A hundred percent," he says with an unflinching honesty. "I never had the thought of ‘I wish I didn’t do Hunger Games,’" he explains, adding how he "recognized how important the movies were and how great they were and how amazing it was to be a part of it." But it’s been 10 years since Mockingjay: Part 2, and he’s had plenty of time to process the experience and appreciate all the professional and personal gains that have come from it. In the moment, though, it’s nearly impossible to wrap your head around.

"There were definitely times where I was spiteful towards it because of the fame, the attention," he says. "I didn’t want any of that. I genuinely, to this day, don’t want it." The attention got so bad that he couldn’t even leave his house, and thoughts of "fuck this industry" regularly filtered through his mind. "It was hardcore."

For the first time in his career, Hutcherson would have to learn something he had miraculously evaded for nearly 20 years: rejection. If you noticed his absence in movies and TV following the Hunger Games movies, that wasn’t necessarily by design. "There weren’t a lot of projects coming my way. I was auditioning, but not getting cast. Now I’m tasting rejection, and I’m 27 years old. I’ve never tasted that before."

It wasn’t an entirely fallow period, though, as he would find his way to TV with the tragically underseen — and hard to find — sci-fi time travel series Future Man from Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. The series didn’t exactly light Hollywood on fire, but it was some of the most fun Hutcherson has ever had on a set. "Nothing was off limits," he explains with a contagious frenetic energy that makes you want to immediately binge the three-season series. He was in awe of Rogen and Goldberg’s ability to hurl endless jokes without even thinking, which led to a hilarious, vulgar hypothetical joke involving a raccoon that Hutcherson used as an example to capture the absurdity and hilarity on set. (Hutcherson reunited with Rogen earlier this year with a cameo in Apple TV’s The Studio.)

"Just loving movies as much as I do and loving being on set as much as I do, directing is definitely something I want to explore more and do more of."

Future Man brought out his love for improv, which he first realized on the set of 2006's RV, the family comedy he made with Robin Williams. Just the mention of Williams' name triggers a playful shift in his energy. Hutcherson’s response is exactly what you’d hope for — witty, quick, "funniest person" he’s ever worked with — but he also highlights something that unfortunately seems to have been lost on us, especially in recent years.

"Robin showed me how fun it was to be silly, and stupid, and laugh at yourself, and be ridiculous." People are, in his opinion, far too self-serious, both in and out of the industry. "It’s okay to be silly and stupid and be a clown. Clowns are incredible. I’m a fucking clown!" he exclaims. "Don’t take yourself too seriously."

All of this further emphasizes the up-for-anything attitude Hutcherson carries to every project. It was also around the time of Future Man that he leaned into his love for filmmaking with his directorial debut with the short film Ape from a script he latched on to as part of a film incubator he was doing with Ron Howard and Canon Cameras. "I love acting, but directing is way more satisfying," adding, "Just loving movies as much as I do and loving being on set as much as I do, directing is definitely something I want to explore more and do more of."

Hutcherson Knows Exactly What He Wants — and What Really Matters

Josh Hutcherson photographed by Yellowbelly for Collider in Los Angeles at the Universal Studios Lot on November 17, 2025. Josh Hutcherson photographed by Yellowbelly for Collider in Los Angeles at the Universal Studios Lot on November 17, 2025.Photography by Yellowbelly for Collider

Toward the end of our conversation, talk turns to I Love LA, a new, hilarious HBO comedy series about a group of friends grappling with their decisions, dreams, and ambition in Los Angeles. Hutcherson plays Dylan, the boyfriend of the main character, Maia, played by Rachel Sennott, who created the series.

"I think Rachel’s brilliant," he beams. "She’s got such a special voice. Fearless, edgy, but just truthful, not trying to be like a shock jock-y edgy. I just fell in love with the idea of doing it." The series, which was just renewed for a Season 2, didn’t initially have a role for Hutcherson. They shot the pilot with a different actor before making changes to Dylan and the story. Then a year later, they recast it, and he couldn’t be happier. "There’s not a weak link on that show." In addition to loving improv, he really appreciates the creative process and leadership Sennott brings to the set. "Rachel and the writers started to find the actors’ strengths… each of us could lean into parts of ourselves and then push other parts."

Dylan is the most level-headed and mild-mannered of the group, who loves all things history, learning, and being a teacher to kids — a profession far removed from the influencer, celebrity, and status-obsessed world Maia and their friends live in. Hutcherson feels pretty aligned with Dylan, who he describes as a laid-back guy who "doesn’t get caught up in the bullshit of things." While he, too, enjoys Ken Burns, he admits it’s probably not as much as Dylan does.

As for what’s ahead for him — both officially and aspirationally — the wheels in his head immediately start to turn. "I’m having a moment where I’m actually getting to be part of some things that I really love," the I Love LA star says after reflecting on his period of rejection. "I’d be so happy if, next year, I got to shoot a second season of I Love LA, and a third Five Nights at Freddy’s movie," he smiles.

Directing, obviously, is also on his mind, along with a movie he’ll be filming in a few months, plus constant voice memos and scribbling down of ideas in a notes app. Perhaps he’ll do more with Straight But Not Narrow, the organization he founded when he was a late teen in support of the LGBT community. Hutcherson started this initiative around 2010, a decision that feels quite ahead of its time. "It was just something that I think was very important for me to speak about," he explains. "When I created it, I didn’t know my little brother was gay. I was already doing this because I thought it was right. And then just knowing that my personal connection to it was even deepened… it was just a cool, great thing to create."

"I’m having a moment where I’m actually getting to be part of some things that I really love."

But what’s most important for him is the ability to recharge his batteries and live his life outside of Hollywood — something that is, understandably, a tricky concept for his team to grasp. "Agents and publicists are like, 'because if you do this, then you can do that, and that means you can do this!'" he rattles off, before cutting the imaginary conversation short with, "Yeah? And then you die." Hutcherson often speaks with the amount of wisdom you’d find with a much older actor, a testament to his upbringing, appreciation for what he has and what he’s been through, and a deep understanding of what really matters. "I have to refill my tank of emotions, and I have to do that by living."

Five Nights at Freddy's 2 is in theaters on December 5.

Photography: Yellowbelly | Location: Universal Studios Lot | Groomer: Kim Verbeck

five-nights-at-freddys-2-2025-new-movie-poster.jpg

Five Nights at Freddy's 2

Like Follow Followed PG-13 Horror Mystery Release Date December 5, 2025 Director Emma Tammi Writers Scott Cawthon Producers Jason Blum, Scott Cawthon Prequel(s) Five Nights at Freddy's Franchise(s) Five Nights at Freddy's

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  • instar50245850.jpg Josh Hutcherson Mike
  • instar50840204-1.jpg Matthew Lillard William Afton
  • instar49636513.jpg Elizabeth Lail Vanessa
  • Cast Placeholder Image Piper Rubio Abby

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