Gold Standard: ‘I cheat,’ Jeffrey Wright jokes of joining ‘Hunger Games,’ ‘Boardwalk’

Jeffrey Wright joined The Envelope recently for a live chat from Berlin, where he’s completing filming on “Mockingjay - Part 2,” the final installment of the “Hunger Games” franchise. And it sounds like he’s having a good time. When we received a tweet during the conversation asking Wright if he could name the funniest moment that he has experienced while making the series, he immediately thought of the present.

“Today? Today was a ... I don’t think ... I’m having second thoughts about disclosing the nature of the conversation that we found ourselves delving into today,” he said. “Trust me, it was hilarious but not for public disclosure. Best to keep a little mystery. It’s just the entire thing’s a running gag.”

Given that Wright’s character, electronics expert Beetee, shares most of his scenes with Jennifer Lawrence, our imaginations are working overtime wondering what J-Law has been up to now.

Wright said shooting the two-part “Mockingjay” has been a unique experience. “People have a more personal relationship with this material than anything I’ve been a part of,” he said. “It’s work that speaks so deeply to younger, formative minds and they find a way of latching their ... aspirations to these characters.”

Which he said is why he found joining the franchise “daunting” -- but then he’s no stranger to that sensation, having signed up for “Boardwalk Empire” for its just-completed fourth season. Wright won strong notices playing Harlem underworld figure Valentin Narcisse.

“I cheat,” Wright said with a laugh about joining these established ventures. “Let them test the waters. ‘What’s the temperature? It’s nice? I’ll join.’”

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