Jeffrey Wright finds 'Hunger Games' comforting

Jeffrey Wright has conquered Broadway, television and film, but now the actor is tackling his most mainstream role yet in the second film of the bestselling "Hunger Games" series.

"It's really comforting," Wright said about being a part of the cultural phenomenon. "When you make a movie, you hope that you will surpass peoples' expectations."

Wright plays Beetee in the second installment, "Catching Fire," which is currently filming.

"[He] is one of the previous victors from the games," Wright said. "He comes back in the 75th anniversary games, the Quarter Quell as it's called and he participates again. But this time the games are used as a foil to advance other ideas."

When he's not acting, Wright is busy giving back to the community. ABC News caught up with him at a special event for Reel Works, a non-profit that provides Brooklyn teens with cameras and pairs them with filmmaker mentors to produce films about their lives and communities.

Wright said he was drawn to the program because it gave teens "the tools to express themselves," the same things he craved as a young actor.

When asked who he would like to play next, the multifaceted Wright said he'd love to portray 19th century author Alexander Pushkin.

"He was the quintessential Russian, but was actually descended of an African. His great great grandfather was brought to Russia as a present for Peter the Great," Wright said. "It's a story that defies cultural and racial categorization and I'd love to bring it to a wider audience."