Just yesterday we reported that Abigail Breslin and Oscar-nominees Jennifer Lawrence, Hailee Steinfeld are contending for the role of Katniss Everdeen, the 16-year-old protagonist of Gary Ross’s much-anticipated adaptation of Suzanne Collin’s wildly popular YA novel, The Hunger Games. Now, Entertainment Weekly has revealed that a panoply of Hollywood starlets are fighting over the role of this much-adored heroine, with no one being a clear frontrunner at this point.
Approximately 30 actresses have either met or read for the role, including some of the most bandied-about names, like Jennifer Lawrence, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin, and Chloë Moretz, as well as Lyndsy Fonseca, Emma Roberts, Saoirse Ronan, Skins U.K. star Kaya Scodelario, Emily Browning, and Shailene Woodley…these ladies have plenty of gritty butt-kicking on their resumes, which will come in handy to play the bow-and-arrow-wielding Katniss, but it’s clear that the studio is casting a wide net. In the first book, Katniss is 16 years old, and the ages of those named here range from 14 (Moretz) to 24 (Fonseca). And, from the looks of it, you’d almost be hard-pressed to name which young, talented actresses aren’t under consideration for the role.
Notably, many of these names were on my Hunger Games cast picks, where our comments section exploded, with many fans demanding an age-appropriate Katniss. While I understand these concerns and feel the danger this kick-ass protagonist faces would feel more savage and menacing if played by a younger looking actress, I think that child-labor laws may prove a key factor to the casting of Katniss. After all, with the whole movie resting on her shoulders, the actress chosen would have to appear in nearly every scene. Will this production obstacle be playing on the minds of the film’s producers? We’ll see.
The Hunger Games, which centers on a brutal kill-or-be-killed battle royale played out by adolescents selected by a tyrannical government, will hit theaters March 23, 2012.
Of those listed, who do you want to see play Katniss? If your pick is not on this list, share your ideal Katniss in comments.