"Hunger Games" stars sad as "Mockingjay part 2" brings series to an end

On the eve of the first “Hunger Games” movie, the studio sent hunky Liam Hemsworth, along with Leven Rambin, Dayo Okeniyi, Amandla Stenberg and Jack Quaid, to a fan event at Lenox Square in Atlanta, where screaming teens and tweens and their patient parents eagerly awaited the blockbuster’s debut.

“You guys are the nicest people I’ve ever met, ” Hemsworth said then. “I love you. I love you all.”

(He told us later that he had wondered whether anyone would even show up.)

Lionsgate

The second, third and now fourth and final movies in the series were largely filmed in Atlanta. The end of the cinematic era was bittersweet for the Hunger Gamers themselves.

Jennifer Lawrence told Entertainment Weekly she “was completely numb and dead inside” as production wrapped, while Josh Hutcherson said things “felt really weird,” and Hemsworth deadpanned: “I was drunk.”

"Mockingjay" parts 1 and 2 cast member Wes Chatham in "President Snow's office" - a room at the Swan House at the Atlanta History Center where much of the series filming occurred. Snow left one of his famous roses behind. Photo: Jennifer Brett

Metro Atlanta native Wes Chatham, who played Castor in “Mockingjay” Parts 1 and 2, was glad to be a part of the experience.

“Spending nine months with the crew and cast and getting close, it was sad” when the cameras finally stopped rolling, he said during an interview at the Swan House, which is featured prominently in the finale (in theaters now), as well as the previous two movies in the series. “The amount of fun that we had was coming to an end.”

His character is a filmmaker of sorts himself, responsible for taping video clips of Katniss to rally the faithful. Stepping into a role so well-known to the series’ fans was a bit daunting, he said.

“The fans were so involved in the books and the characters, you were a little nervous, knowing there were expectations to live up to,” he said. “It’s the best fan base to be a part of.”

Stanley Tucci, who appeared in all four films, struck a wistful note.

“I’m sad for it to come to an end,” he said during a phone interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It’s one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. They’re important movies. There’s real depth to them. Wonderful actors and director. I’m very sad it’s over.”

But he’ll always have Atlanta.

“One of my favorite steakhouses is there, Bones,” he said. “My God. The last time I went down, as soon as I got off the plane I went there. It’s so good!”

Stanley Tucci in character as Caesar Flickerman. Photo: Lionsgate