Live: 'Hunger Games: Catching Fire' panel at Comic-Con

Welcome back to Hall H, where we're about to get started on the panel for The Hunger Games.

Out come the panelists: director Francis Lawrence, then cast members Willow Shields, Lenny Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence.

What was it like to walk on the set for the first day? F. Lawrence: "It was incredible. We started at night, doing scenes with Phillip Seymour Hoffman, which was fantastic. It's a dream cast, a dream story."

What are the challenges for Katniss in the new film? J-Law: "Life is very different now, she's suffering from post-traumatic stress. She doesn't have to worry about food any more, that leaves her feeling useless. She's experienced something with Peeta and they now have this understanding."

Hutcherson: "The love triangle is very complicated. Peeta had such strong feelings for Katniss, and he thought she felt the same way, and it turns out it was an act. It's complicated for him to figure out what he needs to do now. He still wants to help her and protect her."

Hemsworth on the torture scene: "It's interesting to turn up to work and just get whipped for three days straight. At first it's just acting, but after three days of getting hit with anything, it starts to hurt. It was good fun."

F-Law: "I interacted with Suzanne Collins quite a bit. The first thing I did after getting the job was meet her. She's been a big part of the process the entire way through."

F-Law: "This is honestly one of the best groups of people I've got to make a movie with. The way the world has come together in this movie, visiting different districts, seeing more of the capitol... it's more than I could have dreamed of."

Kravitz on Cinna's calmness: "He's a real cool cat. He definitely has an interest in Katniss. As a friend! As someone who believes in her and cares for her. You'll see how they evolve until his very last scene."

What was it like to join the group? Wright: "What's exciting about is people seeing the movies. The work that was done previously established a huge appetite for these movies and expectations. So you want to make sure you match them and surpass them. It could have been intimidating but we just had to step in and step up."

Malone: "Where the last film left off, everything is flipped on its head."

Who does Shields look up to the most? "Probably Jen, yeah. I mean, come on."

Did the victory tour feel like the Oscars? J-Law: "The stakes weren't as high."

How hot are the kissing scenes going to be? Hutcherson: "So hot." J-Law: "Oh God, we should have brought that clip with the snot. There was a lot of slobber. It was a resuscitation scene. There was a huge string of snot coming out of my nose. When I go to kiss Josh, it connects to his mouth. He goes 'eurgh' and I wobble it. It's going to be very hot."

Fave costume? J-Law: "My wedding dress was my favourite to look at. Wearing it was one of the hardest things I've had to do in my life, and you can tell in the movie. It was huge, five feet in circumference, and I'm not good at walking in china heels, as we all know."

A little girl asks for J-Law's namecard, something generally frowned upon at Comic-Con, but J-Law says "sure" and then asks Hutcherson to turn it into a paper plane to throw at her.

J-Law: "There's so much running in the movie. That's a big challenge. And running while trying not to hit myself in the face with my bow."

Indies or studio flicks? J-Law: "There can be something to be said for having too much money. When you don't have the means you have to show up and finish the day. Sometimes with studio movies it's so big and massive... but their food is a lot better and their trailers are better." She realises she's dug herself a hole and concludes with "they're both lovely".

Hutcherson: "There was no divas on set, which with having that many actors is rare."

Wright: "Jennifer and Josh are the funniest pair and a joy to work with. They have a language of their own. The chemistry they have on-screen is a reflection of their chemistry off-screen."

Did they starve themselves in the first film to get into character? Hutcherson: "Jennifer, starve herself?!" J-Law: "We did not. You never have to go to the gym doing these movies, they're very physical."

How do they feel The Hunger Games changed their careers? Shields: "Definitely for the better, I have a lot of great opportunities and I met amazing people because of this." Kravitz: "I'm new to film and I have a day job, I have to make music, and what's really great is that very little children come up to me now wanting to meet Cinna and they have no idea who I am. It's really nice, actually. It's opened up a whole new generation for me." Wright: "I was just starting on this road, but I'm now among the coollest parents at my kids' school. And I learned how to surf in Hawaii." Hemsworth: "Every film you get to work with different directors, and Francis is one of my favourite. He's so intelligent and I've learnt so much from him." Hutcherson: "Career-wise, it's all about balance, doing big popular movies and simple indie movies with intense characters. It allows you to do the smaller movies."

J-Law: "I feel the same way as Josh. I love having the balance. You have a lot more opportunities and these movies are great for that."

After another look at the trailer, that's a wrap on this panel. Join me again in around 90 minutes for... X-Men!