Josh Hutcherson didn't want to be too "gushy and lovey dovey" when starring in The Hunger Games.

The actor stars as Peeta Mellark in the hotly-anticipated Gary Ross release. Peeta and Katniss Everdeen played by Jennifer Lawrence strike up a romantic relationship as they fight to the death in a televised TV battle.

There is a three-way love link, which also includes Katniss' best friend Gale played by Liam Hemsworth.

Josh has explained how he approached the underlying love story in The Hunger Games, which is based on the best-selling book by Suzanne Collins.

"I think that the romance, in my opinion, comes into play more in the second and third films. It's definitely still in the movie and it plays a key part in getting to know Katniss more and getting to know Gale and Peeta as well," he told E! Online.

"Part of it also was to make the character of Peeta more dynamic and interesting. I think that Gary, Suzanne and I all believe that he needed to have a little bit more backbone, not quite as gushy, lovey dovey and whatnot."

Gary says the subtly of the burgeoning romance between the pair was fundamental to staying true to the novel.

The filmmaker has explained his approach to portraying the love story on the big screen, including one pivotal scene which sees the young characters discussing their relationship in a cave.

"The cave is truncated to a certain degree but the book is also pretty clear that Katniss is in a place where you don't know if she's doing it for the cameras or doing it because she has actually feelings for Peeta. She's investigating the ambiguity of her own feelings at this point, so in that respect I think it's faithful," he said.

"I don't think that within the tone of the movie it would have worked for these things to be gushy, but I also don't think that they really are in the book."