Modern-day fans know Donald Sutherland as the villainous President Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games franchise. When the films were released, Sutherland excitedly promoted the films, speaking highly of them. He even called Jennifer Lawrence, who played the lead Katniss Everdeen, a genius and compared her to Jesus Christ.
The legendary actor passed away at the age of 88 on Thursday. He had been suffering from a long illness and the news of his passing was announced by his son and actor Kiefer Sutherland. With a film career spanning more than half a century, Donald Sutherland starred in almost 200 films.
Donald Sutherland Compared His The Hunger Games Co-Star To Jesus Christ
Donald Sutherland amazed fans with his villain performance in Jennifer Lawrence‘s The Hunger Games. Playing President Snow in the four films, Sutherland was praised by the critics for his role. However, Lawrence impressed him more in the films with her portrayal of the young Katniss Everdeen. The M*A*S*H actor had a few nice words when asked about working with the actress.
During the premiere of the 2014 movie The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, Sutherland called Lawrence a “genius” in an interview with E! Online. He shared that she was always the right person at the right time and he drew parallels between her and Jesus Christ. The Dirty Dozen actor shared with E! Online:
When I worked with her, I realized the child was a genius. She’s the right person at the right time in the sense of Joan of Arc or Jesus Christ, any genius, in that sense.
He further added that Lawrence as an actress had the ability to bring out the truth in any material that hits the viewers right in their heart and mind. However, Sutherland shared that she was genius enough not to be affected by this truth. He concluded by calling her a “real girl”. Sutherland shared:
She has the ability as an actor to tell the truth out of the material and that truth is immediately recognizable with everybody because it hits you in your heart, your solar plexus and your mind. And she has the genius of person to be not affected by all of this. She’s just a real girl.
It was not just Sutherland who spoke highly of the Red Sparrow actress. During the same premiere, actresses Julianne Moore and Willow Shields also praised their co-star. Moore called Lawrence a “wonderful human being” and shared that she was “kind, generous, and funny”.
Donald Sutherland Had Certain Expectations Out Of The Hunger Games Films
During an interview with The Guardian, Donald Sutherland revealed that it was Stanley Kubrick‘s lesser-known film Paths of Glory that made a huge impact on him. Sutherland revealed that he was 15 and felt a rage rising inside him. He wanted the young audience of the film to feel the same when they saw The Hunger Games movies.
He shared that these films would help the younger generation to think more pungently about the political environment where they live. He shared with The Guardian:
It just puts things out in the light and lets you have a look at it. And if you take from it what I hope you will take from it, it will make you think a little more pungently about the political environment you live in and not be complacent.
He strongly believed that the Jennifer Lawrence-led movie would bring drastic changes to the political system. He shared that the films could create a third party, change the electoral process, change the tax system, or even help youth take over the government.
While the films didn’t bring that big a change, they were still a pop culture phenomenon. Besides the four main films, the franchise also spawned the prequel film, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
All the movies from The Hunger Games are available for streaming on AMC+.
