Where the "Hunger Games" Stars Are Today

It feels like The Hunger Games books and films have been in our lives forever. In reality, the first installment of the mega-popular novels hit bookshelves ten years ago and the first movie adaptation premiered in theaters back in 2012. But it's been a good chunk of time, so who can blame us for getting a little nostalgic? It’s the young adult dystopian blockbuster franchise that defined a genre and introduced us to a cast of now familiar faces, from leading lady Jennifer Lawrence to the incomparable Amandla Stenberg.

Don’t get us wrong – our hopes for a Hunger Games prequel or spin-off series haven’t died yet, even if JLaw isn’t 100 percent on board. But it’s never too early for a walk down memory lane. Here’s what the actors behind all your favorite characters have been up to over the past couple of years.

Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen)

The role of Katniss Everdeen propelled Jennifer from indie movie ingenue to Girl on Fire. At age 22, she won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her stunning performance opposite Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook. Since then, she’s delivered nothing but box office bangers. In addition to playing Mystique in three X-Men movies, she’s starred in American Hustle, Joy, Passengers, and most recently, Mother! TLDR; Jlaw is one of the highest paid and most versatile actors working today.

Josh Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark)

Josh Hutcherson stole our hearts as the artistic baker’s son Peeta Mellark. After the series ended, he lent his voice to the animated 3D adventure Epic and picked up parts in various smaller projects, including James Franco’s comedy The Disaster Artist and Steinbeck-inspired historical drama In Dubious Battle. Along the way, Josh even produced and starred in a few projects of his own. But currently, he’s killing it as the star of Hulu’s gamer boy adventure series, Future Man.

Liam Hemsworth (Gale Hawthorne)

Beyond all the panic in Panem, there was plenty of drama in the love triangle between Katniss, Peeta, and Liam Hemsworth's Gale Hawthorne, Katniss’s childhood friend (read: crush) turned rebel leader. His time in the Hunger Games might be behind him, but Liam went on to save the world in Independence Day: Resurgence, the 2016 sequel to the 1996 sci-fi classic. But none of his on-screen romances compare to his IRL love story with Miley Cyrus. Last year, Liam shot the artwork for her stripped down, sun-drenched single, “Malibu.”

Amandla Stenberg (Rue)

Amandla has been slaying non-stop since their break-out role as Rue, the lovable tribute from District 11 whose death devastates, and ultimately radicalizes, Katniss. The actor has since starred in several indie films, including As You Are and a couple of other YA book adaptations, including Everything, Everything, The Darkest Minds, and the upcoming The Hate U Give. But acting is only one part of Amandla's career. Here’s a sample of their recent accomplishments: collaborating with fellow queer artists of color through Art Hoe Collective, giving a talk on activism by invitation from Oprah, releasing two folk-rock EPs with their band called Honeywater, covering a Mac DeMarco song for the Everything, Everything soundtrack, writing and directing a short film that got them into New York University’s prestigious film school, and appearing in Beyonce’s “Lemonade” music video. Could Amandla’s resume get any longer? We’re out of breath.

Willow Shields (Primrose Everdeen)

Willow grew up before our eyes during her recurring role as Primrose “Prim” Everdeen, Katniss’s tender-hearted little sister. When her part in the series came to a bittersweet end, it was hard for Willow to say goodbye to her character and beloved castmates. She worked on a couple projects during and after Mockingjay, including the colorful action adventure Into the Rainbow. But now, Willow has found a new passion in film photography. Recently, her feminist photo series “Dear Social Media” explored the difficulties women face in the digital age through portraits taken at Beautycon LA.

Jena Malone (Johanna Mason)

Jena Malone has had plenty of memorable roles over the years, and that hasn’t changed in the years since her portrayal of axe-throwing District 7 victor Johanna Mason. Next, she acted alongside Elle Fanning in the ultra-gory horror flick The Neon Demon and made a cameo in the critically acclaimed crime drama Nocturnal Animals. She also became a mother, got engaged to her longtime partner, and dropped a full-length album with her indie pop band, The Shoe. Last year, she co-wrote and performed a song with Foster the People for their 2017 album, Sacred Hearts Club.

Natalie Dormer (Cressida)

Who could forget Natalie Dormer's Cressida, the film director and rebel ally with arguably the best hair (or lack-off) in the Hunger Games universe? Natalie filmed both Part 1 and Part 2 of Mockingjay while juggling series regular spots on two hit TV shows: Game of Thrones and Elementary. When her four-year arc as Margaery Tyrell ended in 2016, she continued to take on gritty and mysterious roles in projects such as In Darkness, a revenge thriller she co-wrote and starred in, and Amazon’s miniseries adaptation of Picnic at Hanging Rock.

Jack Quaid (Marvel)

Although he is the son of Hollywood royalty, Jack was just an NYU student when he landed his first-ever role: Marvel, the District 1 tribute who killed Rue. Jack followed up his film debut with supporting roles in campy horror flick Tragedy Girls and heist comedy Logan Lucky, plus a main cast role in the since-canceled series Vinyl. But we'll be seeing more of Jack soon. He's set to star in the upcoming Amazon superhero drama series The Boys. And in the meantime, he’s staying busy in the Los Angeles comedy scene.

Sam Claflin (Finnick Odair)

Katniss found an ally in Sam Claflin's Finnick Odair, the dashing District 4 victor who was quite handy with a trident in Catching Fire and Mockingjay. Shortly after Part 2 premiered, he reprised his role as William, Snow White’s love interest, in The Huntsman: Winter’s War. Soon after that, he had the leading role in the big screen adaptation of best-selling romance novel Me Before You, in which he played Will, a man living with a spinal cord injury. He also made us swoon with a moving performance opposite Shailene Woodley in Adrift, a sailing survival drama that will wreck you emotionally.

Alexander Ludwig (Cato)

We all rooted against Alexander as Cato, the bloodthirsty District 2 career tribute from the first Hunger Games film. His recent work includes a supporting role in slasher comedy The Final Girls, and a main cast role in television historical drama series Vikings.

Leven Rambin (Glimmer)

Fresh off her short-lived, but memorable stint as Glimmer, a District 1 tribute, Leven took on another physically demanding role in the surfer biopic Chasing Mavericks. She was then cast as resident tough girl Clarisse La Rue in Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters. To round out her post-Hunger Games portfolio, she then tackled an equally complex supporting role in the second season of True Detective along with a multi-episode stint on Hulu's The Path.

Isabelle Fuhrman (Clove)

Once the first Hunger Games film wrapped, Isabelle went on to earn her diploma from Stanford University’s pre-collegiate studies program. She then starred in the charming coming of age adventure Dear Eleanor, followed by a recurring role as Tessa Johnson, Virginia’s teenage daughter, on Masters of Sex. Her latest project? A supporting role alongside AnnaSophia Robb in Down A Dark Hall, a paranormal boarding school thriller.

Related: Josh Hutcherson Is Down for a Hunger Games Reunion — on One Condition

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