The Hunger Games Movie Cast - Haymitch Abernathy

My 8th grade classes are reading The Hunger Games this six weeks, and we've been working on visualization. As a part of that process, I'm having them visualize characters according to their traits supplied by the author. However, we are also creating a "Dream Cast" that we would like to see in The Hunger Games movie. A lot of you have criticized my Dream Cast for The Hunger Games movie that my students came up with last year, so I'm sure you will have a lot to say about this years suggestions! Keep in mind that teens do not have any desire to visualize "unknown actors" for this movie. They like big-name stars because it is much easier for them to see the characters in their mind, versus simply creating new person in their head.

This brings me to their first suggestion for our 2010 The Hunger Games Dream Cast - Will Smith for Haymitch Abernathy. Before you say, "heck no, Haymitch is supposed to be white", keep in mind that Suzanne Collins only describes him a few times in The Hunger Games as being "a paunchy, middle-aged man". I don't have my Catching Fire book here to directly quote the other description of Haymitch I remember, but I do recall her mentioning something about him having an athletic figure. That by looking at him, you can tell that he was a strong young man during his time in The Games. So I ask you, why NOT Will Smith? Will is in his early forties, and for some, that is considered "middle aged", especially if you live in The Seam. He played a harsh, yet somehow lovable drunk in Hancock, and I think would be a great addition to The Hunger Games movie by bringing star power AND credibility to the storyline. Smith is traditionally known to pick quality roles, so his selection of the role of Haymitch would greatly tout the script and film as being one of quality. Just think about it for awhile...picture Will as Haymitch, loud, drunk, and troubled. It COULD HAPPEN!

See how Will has naturally graying hair in this picture? With the proper wardrobe and makeup, he could easily be Haymitch. He might have to lay off the weights for a few months, but he could be a perfect Haymitch if you gave him a chance!

Click HERE to see The Hunger Games cast list chosen by Entertainment Weekly fans!

EW's Open Letter to Soon-to-be Hunger Games Director, Gary Ross

As a fan of The Hunger Games, I'm more than nervous about what the Hollywood scene will do to this movie. I've seen through the first Twilight film how they can totally twist the book into something that it's not (hello, Twilight the action film? Uh, no, thanks!). According to Entertainment Weekly, Gary Ross will most likely be the director of the film I'm waiting on pins and needles to be made. Can we get a cast list for crying out loud? Hire the dang director and let's get this show on the road!

Darren Franich, a columnist for EW has concerns about the movie that he shares in his open letter to Gary Ross that I've copied for you below. After reading his letter, now I have even more stuff to worry about. I agree with Franich, though. Read the book meticulously, Mr. Ross. METICULOUSLY. Talk to Suzanne Collins. Jump inside her brain. Do NOT try to stamp YOUR "artistic" vision on this and turn it into a pop-culture disaster like Twilight. Granted, those movies have made mega-money, but true fans were sorely dissappointed. Stick to Collins's vision for this movie, and we will all leave you alone. That is all...;)




From Entertainment Weekly "Shelf Life" blog:

Dear Gary Ross:
According to Variety, you’re all-but-officially the director of the Hunger Games movie. Congratulations! You haven’t directed a movie in seven years — Seabiscuit, saw it– and now you’re at the center of the next big young-adult franchise. Hooray! Now, I hope you won’t mind, but I have one minor request: Please, please, please, please, don’t make The Hunger Games gritty. Don’t shoot the movie with handheld cameras. Don’t bleach all the color out of the film stock until everything looks like rusted Depression-era gunmetal. Don’t forget: Katniss Everdeen is not Jason Bourne.

Now, I’m no snob. Gritty can be cool. Heck, calling a movie “gritty” used to be a compliment. Saving Private Ryan, The Lord of the Rings, and The Bourne Identity all took sainted genres known for glossy excess — the war film, the fantasy epic, the espionage thriller — and smeared them in mud. Actors spoke every line in an angry whisper. The color scheme was monochromatic, mostly hovering between comatose-blue and industrial-gray. It was awesome…for awhile. But now, “gritty” is everywhere. We’ve seen the Gritty James Bond movie, the Gritty Superhero movie, the Gritty Twilight movie, the Gritty Terminator movie. We’ve seen Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood, the single muddiest movie ever made.

I understand the impulse to go gritty with Hunger Games. It’s post-apocalyptic, like Children of Men and all the real-world scenes in The Matrix. Katniss lives in District 12, a coal-mining town that reads like a Soviet hellhole. The latter half of the book is one extended action sequence — sound like it demands the extreme-close-up/shaky-cam tension of a Bourne film, right?

Wrong. Reading Hunger Games, you’re struck by just how vivid and alive the forest is. It’s Katniss’ escape from drudgery, the one place she can really feel alive. Listen to her describe the valley outside of District 12: “teeming with summer life, greens to gather, roots to dig, fish iridescent in the sunlight.” That’s sounds more like the Technicolor-organic wilderness of Avatar than the dark, shadowy woods of Twilight. Conversely, the Capitol reads like a fascist version of J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek: too bright, too colorful, overpopulated with highly-caffeinated supermodels. But again, no gritty here.

Mr. Ross, Hunger Games has an instantly exciting storyline, and I have to believe that even a lame treatment of the book will result in a pulse-pounding action movie. But just because ugly things happen in Hunger Games doesn’t mean the film should look ugly. Heck, making Hunger Games gritty is the equivalent of adding a CGI stormcloud over President Snow’s head and adding explanatory subtitles to every scene: “VIOLENCE IS WRONG. DON’T DO FASCISM.”

Don’t make things too easy for the audience. Don’t forget about Suzanne Collins’ biting satirical edge, or her beautifully expansive vision of the world outside the fence. Don’t be afraid to unleash your inner Paul Verhoeven, or your inner Terrence Malick. Don’t go gritty. Hunger Games fans (and people who suffer from motion sickness) will thank you.

Sincerely,

Darren J. Franich, anti-grit crusader and self-described Hunger Games expert

Lionsgate and the Katniss Question

Is Chloe Moretz Katniss Everdeen?

The USA Today reported on Wednesday that there is a bit of buzz surrounding the Lionsgate casting of Katniss Everdeen for The Hunger Games movie. Apparently, actress Chloe Moretz is said to be on the top of a very short list for nabbing the role of the tough heroine. Who is Chloe Moretz, you may ask? Her most recent works include Kick-Ass and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Chloe is only 13 years old, and in my humble opinion, looks more like Prim than Katniss, if we are going on looks alone, which I know shouldn't be what gets her the job - looks. I do know for a fact that her acting skills are noteworthy, and Perri Nemiroff gives her a huge thumbs up for the part in his article, "Daring to Dream: Casting 'The Hunger Games' Movie". He makes some great suggestions for our beloved character's parts. Check out his article for more!

If this movie sucks because they can't hold casting auditions and hire an actress that fits the physical traits of the character and can actually act, then I don't want them to even bother with production. (And if I hear Kristen Stewart's name mentioned for this role one more time, I just might hurl. She is NOT Katniss and I don't think anything Twilight-related should be thrust upon this stand-alone series. This article describing the brew-haha around casting/making The Hunger Games movie even goes as far to call THG The Next Twilight. Ugh. Although a great article and interview with producer Nina Jacobson, enough with the Twilight comparisons!) Do your homework, Lionsgate and GET THIS RIGHT.
So... just in case the casting directors of The Hunger Games need a bit of help, let me give them a slew of character traits mentioned in the book. In fact, take out a sheet of paper, directors, and let's make a t-chart for our lovely Ms. Everdeen, shall we? (We do this in my classroom while studying the novel, and it will serve as a valuable exercise for you, too, my dear casting directors.)Notice I even provide you with page numbers to Suzanne Collins's descriptions in the book. THE BOOK should be the golden standard here when referencing traits, shouldn't it? After all, those of us who will be in line with tickets in hand to see your production will be dedicated fans of the series. PLEASE attempt to have some regard and respect for Collins's vision of the character, Katniss Everdeen. This movie will be an epic fail if Katniss is miscast, but no pressure, huh?

In other Hunger Games movie news, the final round of directors are also rumored to be vying to take the helm of this much-anticipated movie. Sara Gundell from Examiner.com reports that David Slade, Gary Ross and Sam Mendes are named as the top three directors for the job. I've obviously heard of David Slade (director of Eclipse) and have enjoyed many Sam Mendes films (American Beauty, Revolutionary Road). Ross is behind the film Pleasantville (amongst others), but Pleasantville being the only one I really recognized and a film that is one of my cinema favorites! Surprisingly, I do not have an educated opinion for my Lionsgate friends as to who should be the director. It sounds like the three that are leading the crowd are more than qualified for the job.

So there you have it, Hunger Games fans, a bit of news on the film all of us are chomping at the bit to see...LET'S GET GOING, LIONSGATE! Call me if you need a consultant to quote book passages and such!

Click HERE to vote for The Hunger Games movie cast - a poll created by Entertainment Weekly.

The Hunger Games Movie Cast List Link

(From Hunger Games fan site, jabberjays.com)

A few months ago, I created a dream cast list of sorts for The Hunger Games movie that is supposedly being made in the near future by Lionsgate. Many people come to my blog looking for the list, and if you are one of those people, click on the link below for a listing of all things pertaining to the Hunger Games Cast on this site. Casting directors for Lionsgate, if you need any help at all in your upcoming task of casting for The Hunger Games, give me a shout! I would be HAPPY to lend a hand!

Click on the pic for links to the cast list:

Want more casting suggestions? Click HERE to see the picks of Entertainment Weekly fans for The Hunger Games movie.

The Hunger Games Movie in the Works!

I am sooooo excited that another of my favorite teen books is now going to be made into a movie! Check out this post from http://www.comingsoon.net/!

Lionsgate announced today that it has acquired worldwide distribution rights to the film version of Suzanne Collins' best-selling futuristic young adult novel The Hunger Games. Collins will adapt the screenplay from her novel, the first in a trilogy. Nina Jacobson is producing through her Color Force shingle. The announcement was made by Joe Drake, Lionsgate President, Motion Picture Group, and Co-Chief Operating Officer."The Hunger Games" was published by Scholastic last year, and has been singled out for raves by "Twilight" author Stephenie Meyer. The trilogy's eagerly anticipated second installment, "Catching Fire," is due out September 1, 2009.Lionsgate President of Motion Picture Production, Alli Shearmur, will oversee the production for the studio, along with Lionsgate Senior Vice President of Motion Picture Production, Jim Miller.Said Shearmur, "'The Hunger Games' is an incredible property and it is a thrill to bring it home to Lionsgate. This is exactly the kind of movie I came to Lionsgate to make: youthful, exciting, smart and edgy. We are looking forward to working with Nina and Suzanne to create a movie that satisfies audiences' hunger for high-quality entertainment."Said Jacobson, "I am thrilled to have Lionsgate as a partner in 'The Hunger Games.' The suspense of 'The Hunger Games' is heightened by its spirit of moral inquiry, and Suzanne has entrusted Lionsgate and me to bring that moral perspective to the adaptation - a charge we fully intend to honor."In the story, a dystopic Capitol requires its twelve subjugated districts to pay tribute in the form of a teenage boy and girl who are forced to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. When Katniss Everdeen's little sister is chosen in the lottery, Katniss volunteers to take her place. Although persevering through hardship is commonplace for Katniss, she must start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love in order to win the games and return home.

Now, who should be cast as Katniss, Peeta, Gale, Rue or Prim???

Gary Ross, Director of 'The Hunger Games' Gives My Students a SHOUT OUT!

If you are a Hunger Games fan, then you know who Gary Ross is, right? The guy who has the future of the franchise in his hands is sorta well-known around this blog . He has the power to take this book to premiere status, and everyone in Hunger Games Land has an opinion of what the movie should and should NOT contain.

My students LOVE & ADORE this novel, and also have very strong opinions about the movie. Never mind the fact that they are 13 and 14 years of age, they have specific and ENLIGHTENING expectations of what they want this movie to look like and contain. Many people believe 8th graders do not have coherent thoughts, but I'll be the first to go to bat for them - they are INTELLIGENT little humans!

Before our Thanksgiving break, I decided to mirror something that I had witnessed in the "Making of The Outsiders" documentary I viewed two years ago. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a gritty story of teens and their "real" problems - a story that had nothing to do with "Sally Sue's First Spring Dance". It was nothing like the adolescent literature that was on bookshelves in the late 60's. Word of mouth from teen readers fueled the sales of Hinton's groundbreaking work. A group of middle school students in Fresno, California were so passionate about the novel, their librarian encouraged them to write a famous director and beg him or her to make this novel into a movie. The students chose to send their letters to Francis Ford Coppola, the director of the Godfather films. Coppola states in the documentary that he was impressed with the students opinions and heart-felt pleas to turn this book they loved into a movie. Simply put, the cult-classic film, The Outsiders was created because STUDENTS put pen to paper and voiced their opinions.

Hell hath no fury like an 8th grader scorned! Don't let us down, Gary!

I hoped my opinionated students could repeat history, and write letters that would influence the director of THEIR beloved novel, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Ross having recently been named the film's director, it was the perfect time for student to send voice their opinions to the man in charge of it all. Taking the opportunity to teach proper letter format, I had my students HAND WRITE their letters on our school letterhead. They could say whatever they felt in the letter (and trust me, they didn't hold back), but they couldn't be insulting or stupid (even though I'm afraid several of those letters leaned toward the latter:).

Before writing, we created a "non-negotiables" list of book components that HAD to be in the film, and also discussed faux pas we didn't want repeated in HG, that we'd noticed in other films based on books. From there, they crafted their letters with much thought and calculation. Then came my contribution to the assignment: finding a DAD-GUM MAILING ADDRESS FOR GARY ROSS. I Googled my little heart out, and nearly gave up on finding a legitimate address to mail our package of letters. I finally found the main headquarters of Lionsgate Entertainment in California, and the address seemed to be my best bet. Skeptical that THE Gary Ross would ever get his hands on my students' meticulously crafted letters, I dropped the package in the mail, and hoped for the best.

Upon returning from Christmas break this week, my students had asked a few times if I'd heard anything about our letters, but I think they all thought I was a dork for even mailing them...Gary

Ross couldn't possibly receive OUR letters out of tons of fan mail he must receive on a daily basis, could he? The IMPOSSIBLE seemingly happened when I was given a phone message from Entertainment Weekly reporter, Karen Valby. She left the inquiry with our school secretary, who delivered the message to our assistant principal, who then finally gave it to me Thursday morning. After reading the message that stated "reporter for Entertainment Weekly who wants to talk to teacher about student letters to Hunger Games director", I nearly stroked out in the main hallway of our school. Have you ever had a moment in which you want to scream, "No bleepin' WAY!". Well, it's really hard to have that "moment" when in front of your boss! I was so excited, I was sweating like a truck driver and trembling like a 6th grader on their first day of junior high!

Look for the interview (mentioning my FRENSHIP MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS) in the January 14th issue of Entertainment Weekly!

I took a moment to collect myself so this Entertainment Weekly reporter wouldn't think I was a nut job, and give her call. After sweating through a greeting with Karen Valby, and hoping to goodness this wasn't a sick joke orchestrated by one of my ornery students, I was pleased to hear the good news. According to Valby, she had recently interviewed Gary Ross, and he had told her about letters he'd received from a group of 8th graders at Frenship Middle School near Lubbock. (Thank the Lord for campus letterhead, or she wouldn't of had a contact number for our school!) Ross went on to share his opinions of the students passionate responses, and even said he was "dying to go to this school"! I'm sure I said something during our phone conversation, but all I remember doing was sweating...PROFUSELY, and possibly SQUEEEEEEing in my pants a little. Valby also graciously offered to send me copies of the January 14th edition of the mag.

After hanging up with her, I proceeded to run around the school (in heels, mind you) and blubber my crazy news to students, fellow teachers, custodian, random-parent-in-the-hallway, librarian, and some little 6th grade kid I didn't even know. I wouldn't have students for another half hour, and I had to tell SOMEBODY! (I think I even called every member of my immediate family, since they are privy to my Hunger Games addiction.) It was one of the most exciting moments of my life (minus the birth of my daughters, and marrying my husband...blah, blah, blah...you know what I'm talking about!). Knowing that something GREAT was happening to my students filled me with an indescribable JOY. A memory was being made for these kiddos, and perhaps trust in the world being built in them - maybe knowing Gary Ross read their letters would teach them that they ARE NOT insignificant in the world. On a grander scale, perhaps they will realize after this cool occurrence that writing a letter or voicing an opinion is worth the effort. I'm cheesy, I know, but it was a very AWESOME moment in the life of this teacher! Very Hallmark/Lifetime movie-esque, and something I had to share!

Here is a snippet of the article from the Entertainment Weekly website:

“I’m so touched by the humanity of Katniss,” Ross tells EW. “As much as the firestorm or the final action sequences are incredibly riveting and enormous, it’s the relationships in the books that are the most moving to me.” That’s good news for fans of the book from Lubbock, Texas. Upon news that Ross had taken the helm, an 8th grade reading teacher from Lubbock’s Frenship Middle School instructed her 134 students to each pen letters to the director with advice on how to best nail the film. “So many of them wrote ‘Listen, I know this is an action movie and I can’t wait to see the action but please don’t lose the heart of the story,’” relays Ross. CAUTION! STOP! FAT SPOILER ALERT! “The death of Rue is mentioned by every kid who reads the book.”

One Frenship boy pleaded for Megan Fox in the role of Katniss, a perhaps misguided request at least partially driven by hormones. Ross and Jacobson will soon be heading into casting meetings, and they understand the growing clamoring for a relative unknown in the main role. “I don’t think she should be famous,” says Jacobson. “I think that fans want Katniss to belong to them and I understand that. And I think that sometimes with people who have a strong other identity — as a celebrity or as a well known other character — you feel like that person doesn’t belong to you and I think that’s what fans are looking for.” Ross promises that casting announcements will come soon, as the film hopes to go into production in the late spring.

Please, no ridiculous comments about how "Megan Fox is all wrong for Katniss"...WE KNOW THAT! The reference to that particular 8th grade letter was meant as a joke. That student is a silly, witty, goofball and mentioned to Ross that imagining Katniss as Megan Fox made the book all the more interesting. (Ahhhhhhh...8th grade boys and their awkward hormones.) To say my students were excited about Gary Ross reading their letters would be a gross understatement! They were floored, over-the-moon, giddy as school girls (well, half of them ARE school girls), and were pretty much planning their trip to Hollywood to meet the cast, crew, and Gary Ross. (And that one young man was still holding out hope of meeting Megan Fox.) I had to remind them that Ross said he WANTED to meet them, but we would never know if that statement would actually come to fruition. Either way, we are BEYOND EXCITED about THE Gary Ross reading our "helpful" and opinionated Hunger Games movie letters! For more scoop from Gary and a few more references to my students letters, purchase your copy of the January 14th edition of Entertainment Weekly PRONTO, amigo!

Catching Fire Movie Cast...Suggestions, Please!

I need thoughts and suggestions from my Catching Fire fans before I create a Catching Fire cast list. Who do you picture as Finnick, Johanna, or Nuts and Volts? The new characters are making it tough for me to create a cast because I can't quite find anyone who perfectly fits the part or age range. A little help would be greatly appreciated! So far, I've only thought about Finnick...I wonder if this is because he is bronzed babe in the book? Could be!

I like Robert Buckley from Lipstick Jungle, but I'm not sure I have the age of Finnick right. I'm thinking he is 24-25ish if he was 14 and the 65 annual Hunger Games. Is that right? Buckley is 28 years old, so if I'm thinking of the correct age for Finnick, then I'm in the right celebrity age range. Most actors play younger men in their movies, so the difference between 24 and 28 isn't all that great on the big screen. I was also thinking of Jessica Biel for Johanna, but Bield doesn't have the dark eyes that Collin's describes in the book. I guess if Kristen Stewart can wear brown contacts to play Bella, then Biel can for Johanna. What age is Johanna? I need to reread Catching Fire to make sure I'm thinking in the same time frame as Collins. I'm imagining her to be no older than 30, athletic and attractive. Any suggestions beside Biel? You can find my other cast members on my HUNGER GAMES MOVIE CAST LIST. Also, check out Entertainment Weekly's recommendations for The Hunger Games movie!

The Hunger Games Movie Cast List

This cool pic depicts a scene from the reaping. Click on the illustration to go to the artist's website.

If you've yet to read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, you are definitely missing out on the best book of the year. Go pick it up today and read it (click on The Hunger Games book below and it will take you to the Barnes & Noble link to order it), because it will be a huge sensation by the end of this year, when casting for the movie begins.
Before you criticize my choices, I pose a challenge to you: create your own cast list and share them with lenzilikesit.com. Under each posting, give me the name of your recommendation, and I can create a poll for each character that we can vote on and try to decide who would be the best in each roll. I'm sure my pick of Kevin Costner is raising eyebrows, but what Hollywood actor in his mid-fifties would fit Haymitch? I had thought about Terry Bradshaw, who played Matthew McConaugay's dad in Failure to Launch. I wasn't sure if he could be sour enough, and I'm sure I'm totally forgetting of a guy who would do great playing a crotchety middle-aged man with a beer belly. The actor who plays Juno's dad also came to mind...any thoughts from you?

Want more casting suggestions? Click HERE for more!

The Hunger Games Cast List - Katniss Everdeen

This is a picture of actress Lucy Hale who stars the TV Series Privileged on the CW network. Before you shake your head and think I have Katniss all wrong, go back to the text and analyze how Katniss is described by Collins. She and Gale are very similar in appearance and demeanor. Lean, athletic, dark hair, light eyes, and beautiful with out knowing it. The country song, "She Don't Know She's Beautiful" comes to mind when I think of Katniss. She is so no-nonsense and practical, she doesn't have time to obsess about her looks like most sixteen year olds. Her need to keep her family fed trumps all of that nonsense. Imagine Hale without the glamorous Hollywood makeup and tousled hair. Can you see Katniss?

She has potential to gain a bit of lean muscle for the part, doesn't she?

****ATTENTION FANS...MORE HUNGER GAMES MOVIE NEWS ON THE CASTING OF MISS EVERDEEN ON MY MOST RECENT POST. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS! Thank you for visitiing my blog and joining the Hunger Games fan wagon!

Suzanne Collins Discusses The Hunger Games Movie

Around minute 3:30, Suzanne Collins discusses The Hunger Games movie in a recent interview with Borders bookstores. Why in the heck is there NO INFORMATION about the movie out there? Lionsgate, get off your tail and put a press release out or SOMETHING for us fans who are going insane trying to figure out if this movie is ever going to happen. Release a cast name...give us ANYTHING! I love when Collins discusses "cracking the world open" in The Hunger Games movie. Taking the story to the audience and going outside of Katniss's point of view sounds like it will give the film a dimension that the book didn't have. I want to see Gale and Prim's reactions to Katniss's trials and tribulations within the arena. I love her vision for the film and hope she sticks with her role of being the screen writer!

"YOU Cast THE HUNGER GAMES"...Does E.W. Read My Blog?

It's very egotistical of me to think that, but it could happen...right? After coming across this article in Entertainment Weekly, I was pleasantly surprised to find many of the actors and actresses that we've been discussing (errrr, DEBATING! ) gracing the pages of my favorite magazine. For a chance to vote on your pick, click on the picture below. The article is VERY interesting for those of you who are as invested in this series as much as I am!

According to Entertainment Weekly, here are their top contenders for the main roles in the flilm...

~KATNISS~

WINNER!
Kaya Scodelario (39% of the vote)
Best Known For: Britain's Skins, Clash of the Titans

RUNNER-UP
Alexandra Daddario (19%)
Best known for: Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

~PEETA~

WINNER!
Hunter Parrish (40%)

Best Known For: Weeds

RUNNER-UP

Alex Pettyfer (22%)

Best Known For: 2011's Beastly

~GALE~

WINNER!
Gaspard Ulliel (40%)
Best Known For: playing the young Hannibal Lector in Hannibal Rising

RUNNER-UP
Drew Roy (38%)
Best Known For: iCarly, Hannah Montana

~EFFIE TRINKET~

WINNER!
Kristen Chenoweth (51%)
Best Known For: Pushing Daisies, Broadway's Wicked

RUNNER-UP
Emily Blunt (15%)
Best Known For: The Devil Wears Prada and The Young Victoria

~HAYMITCH ABERNATHY~

WINNER!
Hugh Laurie (37%)
Best Known For: House

RUNNER-UP
Robert Downey Jr. (36%)
Best Known For: Iron Man

Alli Shearmur from Lionsgate is listening to the fans and is quoted in the article as saying that "some of the actresses who fans have identified as the best potential Katniss are being considered." Smart move,Lionsgate! Movie makers should know how opinionated and passionate fans of a book can be when their beloved characters are going to be projected onto the big screen. Here's to hoping they make the right choice...we can't find out the official cast list soon enough!

The Hunger Games Cast - Rue

Rue is described "as looking about ten" and has "bright dark eyes and satiny brown skin". She reminds Katniss of her little sister Prim, and Katniss immediately takes a liking to her. In the Games, Rue is what reminds Katniss of home. As a character, she is loveable, and unforgetable to the reader. I chose the actress Madison Pettis. You may remember her from the Disney movie, The Game Plan and the TV show, Cory in the House. She tiny, cute, and has dark hair and eyes. I'm sure she could darken her skin with a little bit of makeup, but her stature is very small for a 12 year old! Perfect match for Rue!

Want more casting suggestions? Click HERE!

The Hunger Games Cast - Gale

Collins describes Gale as having dark hair and light eyes. He looks so similiar to Katniss that they could easily be related. She doesn't get the fact that she must be good looking if that is the case, because Gale is a hottie. The other girls in school talk about him, and he is obviously in love with Katniss. Who could encompass these qualities without being too "Hollywood"? I found an actor by the name of Adam Gregory, who is currently starring in the new 90210 series. Yes, he is attractive, well, okay, he's amazingly fine...but he seems so much like the Gale I pictured in my mind, I nearly screamed when I found his picture!

Want more cast picks? Go HERE for a full list of casting suggestions!

The Hunger Games Cast - Katniss's Mother

I chose Naomi Watts as Katniss's mother because I feel like make up artists could give her the appearance of someone who used to be beautiful. Katniss and Prim's mother has been through so much in her short forty plus years. From the loss of her true love, Katniss's father, to leaving the richer part of District 12 to live a much harder life in The Seam.

The Hunger Games Cast - Prim Everdeen

"Fresh as a rain drop, as lovely as the primrose for which she was named" is a beautiful picture Collins paints of Prim, Katniss only love and sister. You may know our next cast member from her sister's famous name, Dakota Fanning. Dakota is too old to play a 12 year old tribute, but her little sister is not! Elle Fanning is the perfect age and has the light hair, eyes, and rosebud mouth that Katniss describes. What do you think about this choice? Click HERE for more casting suggestions!

The Hunger Games Movie Cast - Haymitch

Haymitch is hard character to cast. Many picture him as an old man, but in reality, he's only in his early-fifties. I know this because when District 12 is having their reaping, Collins describes him as a "paunchy, middle aged man". I wanted to find a bald actor that had an appearance of being a formerly stout, athletic young tribute. (How else would he have won the Games years ago?) To me, Kevin Costner fits the bill for the role of Haymitch. With the right make up a bit more weight around the middle, I'm sure he could embrace the role of a drunk and crotchety mentor to Katniss and Peeta.

Want more casting suggestions? Click HERE!

The Hunger Games Cast List- Peeta Mellark

Peeta Mellark has easily become my favorite character in the novel. Not only is he head-over-heels for Katniss, but he seems to have a genuine and sweet nature. Suzanne Collins describes Peeta as being of "medium height, stocky build, ashy blond hair that falls in waves over his forhead"...this picture of Lucas Till seemed to fit the bill effortlessly. Any thoughts???

This montage of Lucas was created by a fan of the Miley Cyrus movie he is currently starring in as her love interest. Pretty cute without being too much of a heart throb, huh? I think he has a very adorable boy-next-door kind of aura.

Click HERE for a full list of casting suggestions! A great compilation from Entertainment Weekly fans!

The Hunger Games Cast List - Effie Trinket

My friend, Ashlee, had a great suggestion for Effie. Melissa McCarthy is on the CW show, Gilmore Girls. She has the perfect voice and kooky personality that Effie should embody. Ashlee imagined Effie as bit more busty and heavy-set, and when I thought about it, I did, too. I think Melissa McCarthy would be a great Effie!

Want more casting suggestions? Click HERE!

The Hunger Games Cast - Katniss's Father

Kyle Chandler (from the TV show, Friday Night Lights) should play in flashback scenes from Katniss's memory. When he sings, the birds stop and listen, and apparently he has enough charizma (and good looks, too) that Katniss's mother leaves a richer lifestyle to make a life with him.

GARY ROSS KNOWS MY NAME!

Here is our local Fox News 34 covering our big brush with Hollywood and The Hunger Games!


To say we are excited that the local news media was able to actually TALK to Gary Ross, would be a gross understatement. Here's to hoping he can visit our school (and cast us as extras in the movie...just a suggestion.).