Josh Hutcherson Calls His First Time Directing 'Daunting' & 'Challenging'

If you hadn’t heard the news, Josh Hutcherson is making his directorial debut this year with a new short film, Ape!

Speaking with Variety, The Hunger Games actor opened up about going behind the camera for the project.

“It was challenging for sure,” he admitted. “That was the thing I was the most nervous about going in, just because I love acting and directing so much and I respect both of them immensely, so to have to take on both simultaneously was daunting.”

Josh adds about his decision to take the leap into the director’s chair now: “I’ve had a few opportunities over the years to direct and I’ve written a couple shorts that I was going to direct, but there was something about just being too overly ambitious and too young. It’s such a responsibility to direct a movie.”

“It’s real leadership and with age, you gain some seniority and feel a little more grounded and confident in yourself,” he continued. “It was waiting until it felt right and this came across as a crossing point between those two factors: me always wanting to direct and now finally confident enough to do it, and this project sort of came into my life.”