Josh Hutcherson says his role in the HBO comedy I Love LA came at exactly the right moment in his life. He had moved to Brooklyn with his partner, feeling like his acting work was slowing down. But then he got a call from his agent, and soon after, he was back in Los Angeles, shooting a show that would give him a new spark.For Josh, I Love LA is not just another job. He says this role has made him fall in love with acting once more. After many years working in big action and fantasy films, he describes this show as "grounded" and real. In interviews, he has shared that this character, Dylan, reflects a deeper, calmer side of him, someone who values stability and kindness.Josh Hutcherson believes I Love LA came at a turning point. He had been acting since he was a child. He got big fame in The Hunger Games films. But as he entered his thirties, he felt like the offers were thinner and less exciting. He wondered whether he could keep doing this. The role in I Love LA gave him a new kind of energy.A role that fits Josh Hutcherson perfectlyIn Josh Hutcherson's words, he joined the show a bit late in the midst of a recast, but felt an immediate attachment to the character. Hutcherson, speaking with TheWrap, explained that he didn't want Dylan to be "just the square, the boring, nothing guy." Hutcherson and the writers had a lot of discussion around Dylan's core, what he was afraid of, what he wanted, and why he chose to be with Maia, his girlfriend with the ambition to be commercialised.He explains that the team gave him freedom to shape Dylan. The creators, especially Rachel Sennott, as she and co-showrunner Emma Barrie directed Hutcherson's imagination. Josh Hutcherson says they leaned in to what each actor could deliver using their strengths, comedic or otherwise, what felt real to them, and what felt like a fit for him.Sennott, who plays Maia, told TV Insider about bringing Hutcherson into the connection. He felt like the right Dylan because he brought warmth, charm, and a sense of natural humor. In the audition process, she felt he was "disarming." She felt very comfortable with him, as if they had known each other. She appreciated his comedic instincts, mentioning how he was humorous through improv, despite how much he surprised her.Josh also shared that he feels Dylan is a grounded person overall. He stated grounded people feel important in L.A., especially among crazy, ambitious friends. He also mentioned his character doesn't exactly chase fame the way others do in the show. Josh reflected how he feels almost the same way in real life, he is in the business, but not always feel "in it", you know.MOCA Gala 2025 - Source: GettyWhy I Love LA has helped his career?Josh Hutcherson says I Love LA has reignited his passion for acting. He told Interview Magazine that working on this show made him feel grounded again and allowed him to return to the magic he felt when he first came to L.A. as a child. On set, he says he could walk to work, as filming happened in parts of L.A. he already knew.Playing Dylan also gave him a chance to move away from the roles he is known for. Josh Hutcherson's career includes big films and action-heavy parts, but this show offers a different challenge. He says this role aligns with who he is now, and he doesn’t need to always survive some sci-fi world or fight monsters. He is just being himself, a caring partner, a teacher, someone who supports his loved ones.He has said that the experience of making this show "reignited such a love and appreciation for this job in me." That is something he missed. For a long time, he felt acting was about big sets, big stunts, or big risk. In I Love LA, he found simplicity and heart, and that felt healing.Josh Hutcherson also sees the role as a way to break a stereotype. In The Hunger Games, he was Peeta, innocent, kind, but also caught in chaos. Now with Dylan, he again plays a "good guy," but in a very human, flawed, and real way. He says he was "happy to lean into" that persona. For him, it is not about being perfect. It is about being someone who cares and who stays.Another way the show helped was that it allowed him to work in a more collaborative environment. He praised the writers, Rachel Sennott, and co-producers for how much they invited feedback. He feels they listened to him and valued his input. This kind of trust was meaningful for him after years in the big movie world, where direction can be more rigid.In a nutshell, Josh Hutcherson says I Love LA has been a turning point in his career. It gave him a chance to play a role that fits who he is now, to work with people he trusts, and to fall in love with acting all over again. At a time when he wondered if things might slow down, the show came through. For Josh, it was not just a job; it was a reset.