Hunger Games star on his Irish ancestry and missing out on meeting Colin Farrell

Josh Hutcherson said it was 'really disappointing' that he didn't get to meet Colin Farrell, despite starring in a film with him.

Hutcherson, who became a household name for many youngsters as one of the stars of The Hunger Games franchise, has been on the press circuit to promote his new horror, Five Nights at Freddy's 2.

Based on a popular video game, the original Five Nights at Freddy's was one of the biggest box office surprises of the decade, becoming the highest-grossing horror of 2023.

As such, expectations are high for the sequel, and you can read Hucherson and his director Emma Tammi's comments to JOE about the follow-up right here.

Also during the conversation, we asked Josh Hutcherson about his reported Irish heritage and if he has ever visited the Emerald Isle.

In response, he told us: "I have not, but I am almost 100% sure I have Irish ancestors," joking: "A lot of the white nations are kind of like my history."

He explained: "I know I have some Welsh. I've been told I have English and Irish. I've never done the test, but it's in me somewhere. That's for sure."

It was then that we pointed out that Hucherson co-starred with Irish acting legend Colin Farrell in the 2013 animated movie, Epic.

When we asked the Five Nights at Freddy's star if he got to spend much time with Farrell in the voice booth or on the press tour for the film, Hutcherson had a surprising answer.

"Never got to meet him, even. It's really disappointing," he admitted.

"There's been a few times where I've done voice work over the years. I did a movie when I was young, I did the dubbing for Howl's Moving Castle, the Miyazaki movie.

"That was with Christian Bale and Lauren Bacall. I never even met them.

"This thing happens all the time when you make animated movies, where, yeah, you've worked with amazing people, but never got to meet them."

That said, Hutcherson still hopes to meet Farrell "someday".

JOE also noted to the actor that he has been a bit of a "hitmaker" recently, thanks to his roles in The Beekeeper, the original Five Nights at Freddy's and his new HBO comedy show I Love LA, which has already been renewed for a season two.

When we asked if he has any guiding principle at the moment in terms of what projects he takes on, he told us: "I'm just looking for things that excite me.

"I'm looking for things that are not necessarily what you'd expect me to do next. I think The Beekeeper really was the thing that set that off in a big way.

"I'm at a point where I want to challenge myself as an actor and push the boundaries on doing different kinds of genres, different kinds of stories, and not just like doing the same thing again and again and again.

"I'm kind of in a state of expansion in that way, which I think is kind of my guiding light right now."

He also said he is excited about appearing simultaneously in both Five Nights at Freddy's 2 and I Love LA.

"I think I Love LA is so funny. It's like two very different worlds: Five Nights at Freddy's, and I Love LA. It couldn't be more different, but it's great to be a part of it. I think [creator and co-star Rachel Sennott] is incredible.

"I would like next year for my life to just be shooting I Love LA and shooting the third Five Nights at Freddy's.

"That would be like my dream next year. So we'll see if that can happen."

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 arrives in cinemas on Friday, 5 December.

You can check out Josh Hutcherson's interview with JOE below: