Thursday was the first day of San Diego Comic-Con 2015, and the Hunger Games panel was the highlight of the day.
The panel started off with a bang as percussionists began marching through the crowd:
And the #hungergamesmockingjaypart2 panel begins with a little drumming #sdcc pic.twitter.com/qcYZgIAZMK
— ErikDavis (@ErikDavis) July 9, 2015
Moderator Conan O’Brien then took to the stage in Hall H, along with Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Willow Shields, director Francis Lawrence, and producer Nina Jacobson to discuss the final Hunger Games installment, Mockingjay: Part 2.
The cast of #MockingjayPart2 and @ConanOBrien. #MockingjaySDCC #Unite pic.twitter.com/yGpmfsofqb
— Mockingjay – Part 2 (@TheHungerGames) July 9, 2015
The stars took time to reflect on filming the series.
“Suddenly I can’t remember this whole experience,” Jennifer Lawrence remarked when asked what her favorite moment of the series was. She eventually revealed that one of her favorite scenes is in the final film.
As for filming her final scenes with Hutcherson and Hemsworth, Jennifer Lawrence said, “There’s no way of saying this that doesn’t start rumors, but that night we held each other and slept like puppies.”
They also spoke about their characters’ journeys and teased what’s to come in the final film.
“It’s a long road to recovery and it has some bumps along the way. We pick Peeta up inside 13 trying to get himself back. He went through a lot back in the Capitol,” Hutcherson said. “They’re trying to rehabilitate him to be a good guy and help the cause.”
Hemsworth stated that Gale “has been on the sidelines before,” but he “becomes a big part as to how attack the Capitol.” He added that he and Hutcherson have a great scene together in the film. “There might be a kiss between Josh and I,” he joked.
In response to a fan’s question about what it was like to say goodbye to playing Katniss Everdeen, Jennifer Lawrence said, “I don’t really feel like [the end] has happened yet. It’s such a huge part of my life. These movies changed my life. I don’t think I’ll ever say goodbye. Katniss is a part of me.”
They also tried to whistle the Mockingjay tune and were not very successful.
“I gotta be honest, every time I do it it comes out as The X-Files,” Hemsworth said.
The #HungerGames cast trying to do the whistle, and sounding like X-Files. #ComicCon https://t.co/DSVxtnrzeZ
— Adam B. Vary (@adambvary) July 9, 2015
Attendees were treated to the first full trailer for the film, but Francis Lawrence says the trailer will not be available online “for a while.” However, a propaganda video clip, which was also shown at the panel, was released online:
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 hits theaters November 20th.