Sophia White-

WARNING! Spoilers!

Have I been the only one to see the Instagram reel edits of Josh Hutcherson from the recently released movie Five Nights at Freddy’s (FNAF)? They are beautiful thirst trap edits of Hutcherson as his character Mike opens a door, wakes up, and walks down a hallway. It seems a bit excessive, so what is the reason for these hours of Josh Hutcherson edits popping up on TikTok and Instagram?

An example of this would be a TikTok shared with me that included someone writing a persuasive piece on why you should love Josh Hutcherson. He is widely viewed as lovable and husband-material. When asking around campus, I received “love him”, “my husband” or “chef’s kiss” in response. He reels in a large fanbase of people who love the innocent and sweet celebrity, but what happens when Mr. Sweet & Innocent joins the FNAF fanbase?

Before we discuss that, let’s briefly discuss the acting career of Hutcherson. Josh Hutcherson is a beloved actor who started in his youth with Polar Express in 2004, went on to be in the tear-jerker Little Manhattan, and then in the 2010s began his role as Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games franchise films. Now he is immortalized in the gaming nation as the face of Mike Schmidt, the main character and security guard of Five Nights at Freddy’s.

And why is the gruff, dark-haired Hutcherson making the comeback? We all know Hutcherson from The Hunger Games films, in which he played Peeta Mellark. A loveable blonde, bread-boy which is the best way to describe him. His character was loved for his vulnerability and love for Katniss. And now he is the main character of a beloved gaming franchise’s first movie.

The character feels totally different from the lovable characters he usually played in our childhood, and he is now this brooding man who is obsessed with the past. Possibly this feels like a bad boy character to some, but to me, this feels more like a Batman character.

Yet, I see the appeal. Josh Hutcherson has created this phenomenon of the Hutcherson comeback. He has placed himself into two very large fanbases that idolize two different aspects of him and his characters. I believe that this was purposeful because if there’s anything we know about the FNAF franchise, it is that every detail happens for a reason. Why not assume the same for casting? For hecks sake, they used MatPat.

I believe that this was strategic. FNAF is a story surrounding children and the horrible trauma of their demise from a serial killer who targets kids in a bunny suit. Hutcherson was a child actor and went through Hollywood’s demands for years. Similar to these kids, Hutcherson was an innocent child who underwent trauma from adults.

I think that is why he is in this role. This is Hutcherson transforming an innocent sweet boy into a brooding man dealing with his trauma. His character is exactly that. That is why the Hutcherson phenomenon is so impactful. He plays his role like it’s his own.

I have watched this movie twice. Very close in succession. While it is not necessarily the best rendition of Five Nights at Freddy’s that could’ve been done, Josh Hutcherson played his role very well. He played his trauma-filled character to the fullest and came out with growth after realizing that he did not want to let go of his sister and that it was time to let go of the past.

Ultimately, the comeback of Hutcherson is due to the fanbase that has watched him through the years seeing an entirely new side of him. A side of him that, for some reason, is oddly attractive. If you want to know more about what I am talking about, consider watching the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie and explore the Josh Hutcherson fanbase on TikTok or Instagram. Feel free to watch an edit of him from the new movie over and over again for 30 minutes like me and find yourself obsessing over him for the next week.