Jennifer Lawrence’s Savage Joke to Rachel Zegler: “You’ll Never Take My Part!”

The crossover between Hollywood’s past and present is always a captivating moment, and during Paris Fashion Week 2023, The Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes actress Rachel Zegler shared a fun and humorous exchange that had fans buzzing. The two actresses met at a Dior show, where Lawrence’s playful and charismatic nature took center stage, even leading to a joke about “strangling” Zegler in the name of promoting the beloved franchise.

Zegler, who stars as Lucy Gray in the prequel to The Hunger Games, shared the story during an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show. She explained that while chatting with Lawrence, the American Hustle actress quipped in her ear, “Let’s do another photo where I’m strangling you and saying ‘you’ll never take my part!’” The playful remark had both actresses laughing, revealing a mutual affection and showing Lawrence’s awareness of the ongoing comparisons between her iconic role as Katniss Everdeen and Zegler’s new character in the franchise.

While Zegler’s involvement in the Hunger Games prequel has drawn inevitable comparisons to Lawrence’s legendary portrayal of Katniss, the two actresses seemed to bond over the shared legacy of the franchise in an easygoing and light-hearted manner. Lawrence’s humorous remark about “strangling” Zegler emphasized the actress’ down-to-earth charm, which helped propel her career to unprecedented heights in her early 20s. By the time she was Zegler’s age (23), Lawrence had already secured an Academy Award for Silver Linings Playbook and starred in the X-Men and Hunger Games franchises, collecting massive box office receipts along the way.

The original Hunger Games films were a global phenomenon, with the franchise grossing nearly $3 billion worldwide. Lawrence’s portrayal of Katniss made her a household name, with The Hunger Games earning $694 million, Catching Fire making $865 million, and the final two films, Mockingjay – Part 1 and Mockingjay – Part 2, bringing in $755 million and $653 million, respectively. Lawrence’s influence during the Hunger Games era solidified her status as one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actresses, with her $50.5 million paychecks cementing her legacy in the industry.

Meanwhile, Zegler’s journey in the Hunger Games universe is still unfolding. The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes has grossed $337 million so far, a noticeable gap compared to the towering success of its predecessors. However, Zegler’s performance as Lucy Gray, a tribute from District 12, mirrors Katniss Everdeen’s rebellious streak, including a poignant scene where she sings “The Hanging Tree,” a song that became iconic when Lawrence’s Katniss performed it in Mockingjay – Part 1. Though Zegler’s journey is still in its early stages, the comparisons to Lawrence are inevitable—yet it seems the actresses share a warm bond and mutual respect for one another, even as their characters navigate similar paths.

In all, the playful moment between Jennifer Lawrence and Rachel Zegler at Paris Fashion Week serves as a reminder of the strong legacy of The Hunger Games while offering a glimpse into the fun and camaraderie between two actresses who, despite their roles in the same universe, bring their own unique energy to the screen.