It’s old news that Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, and Jennifer Lawrence will star in the upcoming adaptation of The Hunger Games, with Lawrence leading the film. However, it’s been a while since we at Player Affinity discussed the feature, so here’s what you may have missed in casting news!
Entertainment Weekly reveals that Willow Shields, a relative unknown at this point in her small career, has been cast to play Prim, Katniss’s sister. In the novel, she’s initially chosen for death-match fighting, but Katniss steps in for her. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the mother of the two girls will be played by Paula Malcomson.
Television actress Levin Rambin will play Katniss’s District 1 opponent, Glimmer, Deadline Hollywood reports, while Jack Quaid will play fellow District 1 combatant, Marvel. If you’re wondering about that last name, he’s the son of famous actors Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid.
Variety relays that Elizabeth Banks, most famous for films like Zack and Miri Make a Porno and The 40 Year Old Virgin, will play the bureaucratic death-match organizer, Effie Trinket. Meanwhile, EW reports that the strong tribute Thresh will be played by Dayo Okeniyi, who’ll star in the horror flick Slew Hampshire later this year. Amandla Stenberg (no, it’s not “Amanda”) looks to play Rue, a friend of Katniss.
Last but not least, Vulture reveals that John C. Reilly will play former Hunger Games champ Haymitch Abernathy.
That’s quite a bit of casting, and that was all in one week! Looks like Gary Ross is eager to get this film off the ground; though the cast is full of not-so-notable actors, I’d wager that Ross thinks the current unknowns can pull off their roles just fine. Upon looking at the more recognizable actors cast, it just keeps getting better and better.
Stay tuned for more news on The Hunger Games as the project develops.