Casting Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games

Fanboy Comics Managing Editor Barbra Dillon casts Suzanne Collins’ popular YA series.

In light of the recent casting of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, I felt like it would be appropriate to look at my own dream cast for this excellent series. Anyone who hasn’t already read the books should go out and buy a copy today. This is one of the most engrossing series that I have ever read; you will not be disappointed if you give the series a chance. For those unfamiliar with the series, the plot is based in a post-apocalyptic world where the teenaged children of poor citizens are forced by the aristocracy to battle to the death in an annual, televised program called the Hunger Games.

On a lark, I decided to cast the main characters from the first book of the series. For those who haven’t been keeping track of The Fanboy Scoop, a HG movie is already in the works, so I wanted to get a jump on casting before Hollywood ruined another project. I will say that this cast is not ideal, given that the number of talented child actors now-a-days is scant. Had this been cast ten years ago, this movie might have been epic! Alas, I will work with what I must…

Katniss Everdeen – Magda Apanowicz (Lacy Rand in Caprica)

• While most Hollywood conjecture has been leaning towards casting a Disney-fied, hot, young actress, I felt that the role of Katniss required a talented actress whom you probably would not see on the cover of Seventeen magazine. Apanowicz is certainly an attractive young woman, but her beauty is thankfully overshadowed by her ability to demonstrate strength and capability in her performance.

(Yes, I know Lawrence has already been cast. I stand by my choice.)

Peeta Mellark – Anton Yelchin (Chekov in Star Trek)

• The character of Peeta was one of the most difficult to cast, yet I believe that Yelchin can convincingly supply the honesty, compassion, and articulation that is so essential for Katniss’ male counterpart.

(The Hollywood trades seem to think that Alex Pettyfer of I Am Number Four fame has this role wrapped up. I’d still prefer to see Yelchin in it.)

Gale Hawthorne – Aaron Johnson (Dave Lizewski in Kick-Ass)

• Gale was also a challenging role to cast; however, Johnson was a choice based solely on appearance. This casting would be a great departure from his role in Kick-Ass, but I have a feeling that he could bring an interesting dynamic to the Peeta-Katniss-Gale love triangle.

Primrose “Prim” Everdeen – Mary Elle Fanning (most notably… Dakota Fanning’s little sister)

• Fanning is just as adorable as her old sister and could easily fill the shoes of the lovable Prim.

Mrs. Everdeen – Paula Malcomson (Trixie in Deadwood)

• Paula Malcomson never ceases to amaze me. Perhaps, it is because all of her roles require such great emotional strength in times of adversity.

Madge Undersee – Abigail Breslin (Olive in Little Miss Sunshine)

• I’m a big fan of Abigail Breslin, but I really didn’t feel that she was Katniss material. Maybe, it is time for her to face a challenge in a role that is not always in the spotlight.

Haymitch Abernathy – Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Truman Capote in Capote)

• Haymitch is a dynamic and complicated character; one who is full of contradictions. I chose Hoffman due, in small part, to his physical appearance and in large part because his performance as Haymitch would be a joy to watch!

Effie Trinket – Emma Caulfield (Anya in Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

• Caulfield’s entertaining performances as Anya on Buffy the Vampire Slayer will allow her to easily slip into the role of Effie Trinket.

President Snow – Ian McShane (Al Swearengen in Deadwood)

• Is there anything negative to say about Ian McShane? I would be entertained by him if he read from the phonebook.

Cinna – Cillian Murphy (Jonathan Crane in The Dark Knight)

• For some reason, Cillian Murphy kept appearing in my head as Cinna while reading this series. I can’t quite explain it, but I know that he would bring the intelligence and understated strength which Cinna possesses. (Apparently, Entertainment Weekly agreed with me!)

Rue – Bree Seanna Wall (Sofia in Deadwood)

• Given that the audience must equate the characters of Prim and Rue, it was not hard to cast the adorable Bree Seanna Wall. Her performance in Deadwood was remarkable and endearing given her circumstances.

Glimmer – Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Alice in Wonderland)

• Glimmer is a remarkably stunning young woman, which can easily be matched by Wasikowska.

Clove – Amber Tamblyn (Joan in Joan of Arcadia)

• While Tamblyn isn’t necessarily the toughest girl on the block, I think that her age will be an imposing factor to her Hunger Games opponents.

Cato – Teddy Dunn (Duncan Kane in Veronica Mars)

• While Dunn may be a bit old for this cast, I envisioned Cato and the other Careers as characters much like Casper Van Dien circa Starship Troopers. And, yes, I know that Starship Troopers is a terrible movie.

Thresh – Stanislav Ianevski (Viktor Krum in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire)

• In addition to his size and strength, I have a feeling that Ianevski can display the soft side of Thresh that makes him such an endearing character.

Foxface – Jessie Cave (Lavender Brown in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)

• No; I did not choose the entire cast from the Harry Potter series. She just looks like a fox (the animal).

Avox Girl – Bonnie Wright (Ginny in Harry Potter series)

• Bonnie Wright is certainly a striking, young red head, and her British dialect will definitely not pose a problem for this character.

Caesar Flickerman – Eugene Levy (Gerry Fleck in Best in Show) or Jim Broadbent (Harold Zidler in Moulin Rouge)

• For this over-the-top character, either of these hysterical character actors would prove to be wildly entertaining.

Barbra Dillon is the Managing Editor of Fanboy Comics, an independent comic book publishing company based in Los Angeles, Calif. She has produced numerous short films including Something Animal and Batman of Suburbia, and served as Legal Advisor for the film Walken on Sunshine. For more interviews, blogs, and reviews by Barbra and the FBC staff, check out the Fanboy Comics website at FanboyComics.net or sign up for the e-newsletter, The Fanboy Scoop, by emailing subscribe@fanboycomics.net.