The Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson has responded to Quentin Tarantino’s claims that the film series ‘ripped off’ 2000 Japanese action film Battle Royale.

• READ MORE:‘Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood’ film review – Tarantino’s most satisfying work in decades

Last week, during an appearance on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast, the celebrated director pointed out the similarities between two stories, both of which centre around a totalitarian government making teenagers fight to the death.

“I do not understand how the Japanese writer didn’t sue Suzanne Collins for every fucking thing she owns,” Tarantino said. “They just ripped off the fucking book!” He included the Japanese film in his favourite films of the 21st Century.

Josh Hutcherson played Peeta Mellark in all of the Hunger Games Movies, released between 2012 and 2015. He is currently promoting the horror sequel Five Nights At Freddy’s 2, and was asked by Variety about the director’s comments. “There are similar themes, for sure” he replied. “But, you know, everyone borrows from everyone.”

Quentin Tarantino has made a number of remarks about the film industry recently, as well as his own future work. He took aim at Paul Dano, calling the actor a “weak, uninteresting guy” and describing his performance in 2007’s There Will Be Blood as a “big, giant flaw” in the film. “[Dano] is weak sauce, man. He’s a weak sister” he said of the actor.

The filmmaker is currently promoting the lost chapter of his Kill Bill films, created as an animated short through Fortnite. Star Uma Thurman said she found the new work “really moving”, although fans were not impressed by the release. The films are also being re-released as one combined film, titled Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair.

Recently, Tarantino revealed that he had plans to make a prequel to the Kill Bill movies, centred around the rise of antagonist Bill.