(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Josh Hutcherson would have landed a role in The Hunger Games even if he was "bright purple" and had wings.

The new movie is based on the science fiction series written by Suzanne Collins. She is thrilled with the casting for the movie, insisting Josh was the perfect choice to play Peeta Mellark even though he had to dye his hair lighter for the role.

"People may get thrown off by, say, the colour of an actor's hair," Suzanne told E.W. "But I tell you, if Josh had been bright purple and had six-foot wings and gave that audition, I'd have been like, Cast him! We can work around the wings.' He was that good."

Josh stars alongside Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth in the film.

The trio have formed a close bond since they began working together, and Josh has confessed that he loves playing tricks and managed to scare Jennifer by leaving an unwanted guest in her trailer.

"We have this fake dummy on the set, this really gnarled-up, scary-looking thing," Josh confessed. "The other day I put it in her bathroom trailer, and she told me she actually peed her pants, she was so scared. I'm sure she's going to pay me back."

Jennifer plays Katniss Everdeen in the movie, which sees her character forced to fight other teenagers to the death to save her community.

The Hunger Games director Gary Ross is full of praise for Australian-born star Liam, who is dating Miley Cyrus. He claims many people assume he landed the role of Gale Hawthorne because of his good looks, but insists he is a terrific actor too.

"On first glance he's such a hunk that it's easy to just sort of ascribe a hunk-like simplicity to him," Gary explained. "But this is a phenomenally subtle actor."

The Hunger Games will be released worldwide next year. (C) Cover Media