The Hunger Games

[MadVillainy]

Finished the first book. One sitting. No breaks. No regrets.

Really cool book. I really liked Peeta and Katniss. The first part of the book wasnt that good, interesting but boring. The second 2 parts were really good and made up for any slack.

The whole time I was reading I was picturing Steinfeld in the role. She'd definetly be the best choice. Dakota Fanning wouldnt be bad either. Chloe Moretz is a good actress, but I cant really see her as Katniss same goes with Breslin.
Jennifer Lawrence is a great actress and is extremely attractive, but she shouldnt be Katniss. Katniss is a kinda plain girl who of course is attractive under it all. Kinda like Hermione in Harry Potter. and Lawrence isnt very plain even in Winter's Bone the tried to make her look more normal but I dont think it worked very well.

I really hope they dont end up casting 20 year olds in the role. THe whole thing about the book is that theyre getting kids to kill each other. Thats the brutality of it all. Casting 20 year olds wont have the same effect. I understand that minors have laws that prevent them from working too much, but still.

And I pray that Alex Pettyfer doesnt get the role of Peeta. That character was cool and that guy is a bad actor. I wish that they would go for an open casting call for some of the younger roles like the Coens did with True Grit and Chris Columbus did with Harry Potter

 

[flickchick85]

I still haven't read these books yet (still working on Game of Thrones), but if Steinfeld, Moretz, etc. are the names being considered for Katniss, then hell yes is Pettyfer wrong for the male lead. Picturing him playing a romantic interest for them is just...squicky.

If they're gonna be looking in Steinfeld's age range for Peeta as well, then I think Pettyfer's I Am Number Four co-star Callan McAuliffe would be a much better fit, based on what I've read about the character. I saw him not too long ago as the lead in Rob Reiner's latest film where he was friggin' adorable (and a better actor than Pettyfer, at least), and he's apparently just 2 years older than Steinfeld.

But as I said, I haven't actually read the books, so what do I know. Here's a short interview with him, btw:



He was blonder in the Rob Reiner flick, for the record.

 

[MadVillainy]

havent seen him act, but he seems like a good choice look wise. I hope they consider him

 

[Crockett]

Reading this article about Pettyfer being approached for the project =

I hope he stays as far away from this.

 

[ComicChick]

I really can't see Lawerence as Katniss.. What happened to Moretz, I thought she was rumored?

she looks even less the part

 

[ComicChick]

I've said for a while that I've wanted these two as casting choices:

Effie Trinkett - Kristen Chenoweth

Haymitch - Hugh Laurie

I read recently that Hugh can't do it, so I thought, who would my second choices be?

Gerard Butler as Haymitch? I'm sure he can do surly and let himself go. He has the build of someone who has been in the Hunger Games before and I'm sure he could pull of the alcoholic bit too.

Sarah Michelle Gellar as Effie? I dunno why but I could see her in the role as well. She can play uppity like Effie but I think she could carry it with the earnestness as well.

 

[green]

she looks even less the part

I disagree
For such a young girl I think Moretz has this intensity to her that would work.
None of the casting choices really have straight black hair, olive skin and grey eyes.

I do agree with Cheno as Effie though, great suggestion.
Gellar has that new tv show, that actually sounds kinda promising so I'm not so sure she'd be an option.

 

[ComicChick]

i didn't know Gellar was on tv again

as for Moretz, i feel like if she is cast, people will see her as Hit Girl, and not Katniss. I like Moretz, and if she were to get the role, she'll also pretty much get typecast in these types of roles for a long time. I actually would be ok with her being one of the kids from the other districts, like Clove or Glimmer.

 

[green]

http://www.deadline.com/2011/01/cbs-picks-up-drama-pilot-starring-sarah-michelle-gellar/
They've added Ioan Grufford and Nestor Carbonal to the cast so far.

I hear where you're coming from but it's not like a lot of people saw Kick Ass sadly.

 

[Project862006]

@CC i think Jefferey Dean Morgan would be a good haymitch

 

[Project862006]

also i think Lucas Till who will be in Battle LA and X Men:First Class would be a good Peeta

 

[MadVillainy]

What about James Gandolfini for Haymitch

 

[Project862006]

apparently Saoirse Ronan is also in the running and she is actually 16 i think she could pull it off

 

[ComicChick]

@CC i think Jefferey Dean Morgan would be a good haymitch

he could work, or Robert Downey Jr would be a big kick.

as for Peeta, Hunter Parrish is a name I see thrown around on the internet as a popular casting choice

i like the guy who plays the eldest son in the Narnia movies, Peter, but I can't remember his real name. He might be too old now, dunno how old he is either lol

 

[ComicChick]

found this mock movie poster online and I kinda like it:

 

[Hush]

I think that Gary Oldman is perfect for Haymitch, I always thought of him when I read the books.

 

[MadVillainy]

I finished the remaining 2 books today. They were still pretty good. Just not as good as the first.

Spoiler

The last 3rd of Mockingjay was pretty heavy. Especially like the last 10 pages where Katniss is severely depressed and thinking about suicide. I kept thinking: theres only a couple pages left is she really going to do it? Also I just like how they didnt make it a completely happy ending

i didn't know Gellar was on tv again

as for Moretz, i feel like if she is cast, people will see her as Hit Girl, and not Katniss. I like Moretz, and if she were to get the role, she'll also pretty much get typecast in these types of roles for a long time. I actually would be ok with her being one of the kids from the other districts, like Clove or Glimmer.

BUt isnt that the risk alot of the times whenever an actor/actress gets the job. To some people theyre always going to be "that character" it kinda comes with the territory
and Kick Ass isnt so popular where her being Hit GIrl would be a problem

apparently Saoirse Ronan is also in the running and she is actually 16 i think she could pull it off

I'd be good with Ronan. She was really good in Atonement.
Kinda OT: You guys notice there is a nice amount of under 18 actresses. Steinfeld, Ronan, Breslin, and Dakota Fanning (and I hear the other Fanning sister is good too); but I dont think there has been a really talented under 18 year old boy since Haley Joel Osment

----------------------

My partial Cast
Katniss= Hailee Steinfeld

Haymitch= James Gandolfini. I like RDJ and Jeffrey Dean Morgan as actors. I just cant really see them in the role.

Effie= Kristen Chenoweth (Great choice ComicChick)

Those are the only 3 I can definitely see and support in a role. As I said before that Callan Mcauliffe has the look for Peeta, but I dont know if he can act. And I vote no for Lucas Till

And I had know idea who would make a good Gale. The only young actor I could think of is a Disney kid named Hutch Dano. But I dont even really know how he acts.
ANd then the only role I was picturing an actor in while reading was Stanley Tucci as Cinna and that was mostly because of his character in Devil Wears Prada

 

[Hush]

I like Tim Gunn for Cinna.

 

[Project862006]

callan would need steroids to reach peeta's physique

Hunter Parrish would be a good choice

 

[MadVillainy]

ahhh yeah you do have a good point but its not like someone hasnt put on muscle for a role
But I'd still say no to Parrish

 

[ComicChick]

Omg I thought I was the only one who thought Tucci for Cinna. It was his role in burlesque that sealed the deal for me there.

President Snow needs to be cast well. Any suggestions there?

 

[MadVillainy]

I heard someone on a podcast say that Tucci always pplays the wuintissential gay confidant. I didnt know he had any other roles similar to his one in Devil Wears Prada

About Snow, Im not sure. I was picturing Bill Nighy just based on the "snake eye" description of him and probably also because he played the Minister in the last 2 Harry Potter movies
BUt I found that the Hunger Games wiki has this collection of top fan choices for a bunch of roles
http://thehungergames.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Top_10_Lists

 

[flickchick85]

Hunter Parrish is another one that seems too old for these young Katniss options. He'd work opposite Jennifer Lawrence, though, if she were cast.

ETA: So according to that wiki link Blackman posted, Callan Mcauliffe is already one of the fan faves for Peeta. Dammit, I'm an accidental bandwagon jumper. And LOL at them using super old pics of Alex Pettyfer, back when he actually looked right for the part, haha.

Kinda OT: You guys notice there is a nice amount of under 18 actresses. Steinfeld, Ronan, Breslin, and Dakota Fanning (and I hear the other Fanning sister is good too); but I dont think there has been a really talented under 18 year old boy since Haley Joel Osment

Yeah, a co-worker and I were having this exact discussion the other day. Where are all the young male actors? Kodi Smit-McPhee was great in Let Me In and Romulus, My Father, but I just have a hard time picturing him playing any other character than "scared little boy," so I wouldn't really claim to expect a bright career ahead of him like I would with Steinfeld, Moretz, the Fannings (yep, Elle Fanning was great in Somewhere), etc.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

^It is strange.

 

[MadVillainy]

Anyone notice how close theyre casting to start date? Not really a problem but if they expect anyone to alter their weight theyre not giving them much time

Also a rumor said Lawrence was offered KAtniss, but the rumor was debunked: http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2011/03/11/jennifer-lawrence-hunger-games/

Hunter Parrish is another one that seems too old for these young Katniss options. He'd work opposite Jennifer Lawrence, though, if she were cast.

Yeah he's too old for alot of the choices. BUt if they go with the older choices he wouldnt be that bad, he's a good actor (but I hate his character on Weeds)

ETA: So according to that wiki link Blackman posted, Callan Mcauliffe is already one of the fan faves for Peeta. Dammit, I'm an accidental bandwagon jumper. And LOL at them using super old pics of Alex Pettyfer, back when he actually looked right for the part, haha.

Man the Pettyfer support is stupid. He doesnt even look like he can play high school age. But I could ignore that if he wasnt such an emotionless actor
Im still not sure who I want for Peeta if they cast young. I just know not Pettyfer young or old

Also. Thanks for mentioning that movie Flipped. I actually watched it 2 days ago and really enjoyed it.

Yeah, a co-worker and I were having this exact discussion the other day. Where are all the young male actors? Kodi Smit-McPhee was great in Let Me In and Romulus, My Father, but I just have a hard time picturing him playing any other character than "scared little boy," so I wouldn't really claim to expect a bright career ahead of him like I would with Steinfeld, Moretz, the Fannings (yep, Elle Fanning was great in Somewhere), etc.

Even when you look at not necessarily good but popular young actors theyre all girls. Look at the most popular Disney and Nickelodeon stars.