Movie studio Lionsgate has the rights to Suzanne Collins'
The Hunger Games trilogy, and production is estimated to begin late this spring or in early summer, with an expected release date of March 23, 2012. This means that even though fans have finished all the books in the series (
The Hunger Games,
Catching Fire,
Mockingjay), we still have the movies to look forward to. I hope that actual teenage actors, and not twentysomethings, are hired for the roles of Katniss, Peeta, and Gale. If you've read the books, which actors and actresses do you see playing the characters in the adaptation of the first book? Would you prefer that unknown actors and actresses are cast as these characters? Here are the characters to cast, along with a couple of my suggestions:
Katniss Everdeen
Sixteen-year-old Katniss hunts and trades for food to provide for her mother and younger sister. She wears her long dark hair in a braid.
Entertainment Weekly recommends
Chloe Moretz for this role. My choice:
Hailee Steinfeld, who was recently nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in
True Grit. She is talented, the right age (fifteen), and has the toughness needed to play Katniss.
Peeta Mellark
Although Katniss knew of Peeta before The Hunger Games, they have never spoken to each other, despite an important event from when they were younger that Katniss never forgot. One night Peeta threw a couple loaves of bread out to Katniss, who was starving and foraging behind his father's bakery for food. Peeta is described as being "medium height, stocky build, [with] ashy blond hair that falls in waves over his forehead." Throughout the Games it is difficult for Katniss to know whether Peeta is being genuine or is simply "playing the game."
Gale
Gale is eighteen years old and best friends with Katniss. He takes care of his family and goes out hunting with Katniss, who he has nicknamed Catnip. Katniss notes of Gale: "He could be my brother. Straight black hair, olive skin, we even have the same gray eyes." While Katniss denies having any romantic feelings for Gale, he may care for her more than just a friend. Do any actors come to mind when you read the following description of Gale?
...if he wants kids, Gale won't have any trouble finding a wife. He's good-looking, he's strong enough to handle the work in the mines, and he can hunt. You can tell by the way the girls whisper about him when he walks by in school that they want him. It makes me jealous but not for the reason people might think. Good hunting partners are hard to find. (p. 10)
Rue
In the book, Katniss says that Rue "can move through the woods like a shadow..." The other tributes underestimate Rue due to her small size. She loves music and is friends with some mockingjays back at home. Only twelve-years-old, she reminds Katniss of her sister.
She has bright, dark eyes and satiny brown skin and stands tilted up on her toes with her arms slightly extended to her sides, as if ready to take wing at the slightest sound. It's impossible not to think of a bird. (p. 98-9)
Prim Everdeen
Prim is the younger sister of Katniss, and has light hair and blue eyes like their mother. My choice to play this character: Eleven-year-old
Kiernan Sherpka, best known for her role as Sally Draper on
Mad Men.
Haymitch Abernathy
Described as "a paunchy, middle-aged man," Haymitch is drunk when he is first introduced, and is one of only two tributes from District 12 who have won The Hunger Games. I think
Robbie Coltrane, who plays Hagrid in the Harry Potter films, would be a good choice for this character.
I had trouble thinking of teenage actors for the roles of Peeta and Gale. Who have I been missing? Plus, don't forget these other roles: Effie Trinket, the mayor, Cinna, the rest of the tributes in The Hunger Games....
