The hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence says starring in the franchise made her feel like she was losing control. Based on the popular children’s novels by Suzanne Collins, The hunger Games was released in 2012. The action thriller is set in a dystopian world where the country of Panem is divided into 12 districts, with two children from each district chosen annually to compete in a tournament to the death with only one survivor (usually) . The main character of the series, Katniss Everdeen, volunteers to participate The hunger Games instead of her younger sister and manages to not only win the games but also keep her fellow District 12 tribute alive, eventually sparking a revolution in Panem.
Lawrence starred in the 2012 film alongside Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth. She became the face of the franchise as Katniss and starred in three more hunger games movies until the series ended with Mockingjay – Part 2 in 2015. Outside of work in The hunger Games, making her a household name, Lawrence won an Oscar for her performance in 2012 Silver Linings Playbook, as well as being nominated on three other occasions since. The actor has managed to build a resume with a unique variety – while a few of her films, such as red sparrow, talk to her hunger games roots, other movies like Adam McKay’s don’t look up and Darron Aronofsky’s Mother! demonstrate its reach. While Lawrence owes much of her success to… The hunger Games, the fame she achieved was a double-edged sword.
Speaking about her career during the London Film Festival’s “Screen Talk” series, reported by Variety, Lawrence discussed the difficulties associated with the fame she gained afterward The hunger Games. The actor noted that the film’s release, coupled with her Oscar win the same year, led to a… “loss of control” for her. Check out what Lawrence had to say about the experience below:
“I think I’ve lost a sense of control. Between ‘The Hunger Games’ coming out and winning the Oscar [for 2012’s “Silver Lining Playbook”]I became such a commodity that I felt like every decision was a big, big group decision. When I think back now, I can’t think of those years to come, [because there was] just a loss of control.”
Jennifer Lawrence’s Career Shows the Good and Bad of Franchise Filmmaking
Lawrence’s reference to becoming “a commodity” demonstrates some of the drawbacks associated with starring roles in major franchises such as: The hunger Games, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or Harry Potter. The opportunity to be typecast is frustrating for young actors trying to establish their own creative identities, but there’s also the issue of sacrificing projects because they don’t fit the franchise hero image, or passing on projects because of contractual obligations. . Being locked into a major franchise can be a surefire way to become a star, but the limits and restrictions that status can impose on an actor, as Lawrence calls it, can cause them to lose autonomy over their careers and identities.
While the role of Lawrence gave her career a huge upward trajectory, it was clearly not without consequences for the actor, who lost some grip on the direction of her professional life. As Hollywood adapts to the franchise zeitgeist by expanding universes like the MCU and the DC Extended Universe and creating shared universes with series spin-offs and prequels, it’s clear that making franchise movies has become indispensable. . Given the boom in shared universes and franchises since The hunger Games first came out ten years ago, there are more young actors entering franchises than ever before, making Lawrence’s experience just as relevant today.
Source: Variety
