A crowd of “Hunger Games” fans waited outside the Spreckels Theatre in downtown San Diego Thursday to catch a glimpse of the stars from the films, hoping to share a special moment with their idols.
Lead actors Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and Jennifer Lawrence were whisked into the theatre around 3:30 p.m. so they could tape their appearance on Conan O’Brien’s TBS talk show, which is broadcasting from Spreckels Theatre through Sunday, during San Diego Comic-Con International 2015 (SDCC).
As the stars quickly made their way in through the side door on Broadway Circle – just across the way from the NBC 7 studios – excited fans screamed their names and cheered.
One of those super fans was Alexandra Meza, who stood outside Spreckels for hours waiting to see her favorite actors.
When she saw them for a brief second, she was overwhelmed with emotion and began tearing up.
“I literally wanted to pass out,” Meza told NBC 7. “I got to say hi, they waved.”
“I just met Jennifer Lawrence!” she added, eagerly.
Meza planned to stick around until after the taping to see Lawrence, Hutcherson and Hemsworth once more with hopes of getting an autograph or a selfie with them – especially with Lawrence.
“If she can just make eye contact with me – that would make my day. I would make, like, forever,” said Meza with a laugh.
Meza said she was over at Comic-Con earlier in the day checking out the highly-anticipated “Hunger Games” panel, which boasted a screening of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2” – the final installment of the franchise, set to hit movie theaters on Nov. 20.
Her main focus, for Thursday at least, was on all things “Hunger Games,” she said. Meza planned to shift her focus to another favorite, “Once Upon a Time,” by Saturday.
San Diego resident Diego Castro was also among the lucky fans who saw “The Hunger Games” cast Thursday outside of Spreckels Theatre.
“I can die in peace now,” he half-joked.
Castro told NBC 7 he woke up early and was at Comic-Con by 8 a.m., waiting all day to see the cast at different locations in downtown San Diego.
He said seeing them in person – especially Hutcherson – was really important for him as a fan.
“I just love the series. I relate to the series in so many ways. I just love them,” he added.
At Thursday’s Comic-Con panel, the three actors said ending the four-film series has been deeply emotional. Lawrence told fans she feels that she and her Katniss character will forever be connected.
“I don't think I'll ever say goodbye to her," she said.