'Hunger Games' Josh Hutcherson on Sequel's New Director: 'It's Gonna Be a Fun Ride' (Video)

10:35 PM PDT 4/21/2012 by Sophie Schillaci

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The actor tells THR he's "excited" to meet Francis Lawrence, who will helm the next installment of the Lionsgate franchise.

Amid the high profile director shakeup for Lionsgate's sequel to The Hunger Games, the film's three stars -- Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth -- had remained mum on their new leader. Attending the GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday, Hutcherson broke his silence.

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"I'm excited to meet him," Hutcherson said of newly named Catching Fire director, Francis Lawrence. "I've heard amazing things about him, so it's gonna be a fun ride."

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Hutcherson was on hand to receive the watchdog organization's Vanguard award, presented to media professionals who have increased the visibility and understanding of the LGBT community.

"It means the world to me," Hutcherson said of the honor. "Getting awards for acting is one thing, but getting awards for trying to actually make a difference in the community -- that means so much more to me."

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The actor, 19, has lent his support to ally organization Straight But Not Narrow and has remained outspoken about equality. Hutcherson co-starred as the son of a lesbian couple in the 2010 pic The Kids Are All Right, which took home the GLAAD Award for outstanding feature, wide release.

"My fight for equal rights has been all my life," he said. "My whole family raised me very much with an open mind. Everybody deserves to be treated equally no matter race, gender, sexuality, whatever. It's a big thing that's important to me."

See more from THR's interview with Hutcherson in the video above.

E-mail: Sophie.Schillaci@thr.com; Twitter: @SophieSchillaci