As promised, more news has broken on The Hunger Games front, proclaiming early front-runner Elizabeth Banks is in talks to play Effie Trinket in Gary Ross’ action-packed adaptation of the popular YA novel. [Variety]
Lionsgate hopes The Hunger Games will be the next franchise to attract the kind of fandemonium and box office bankability that former YA-phenoms Harry Potter and Twilight have, by pulling in audience members young and old. And while tweens and teens may be pulled in the team-forming love triangle at the book’s core, adults may be more attracted to this dystopian drama’s compelling action sequences and political overtones.
Jennifer Lawrence was the first actor to sign onto the hotly anticipated property. The Winter’s Bone star is currently in training, learning archery and survival skills, to best portray the gritty heroine with a heart of gold, Katniss Everdeen, the book series’ central figure. Shortly thereafter Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth joined the Games, playing the young men vying for Katniss’ conflict-ridden heart. While Hemsworth snagged the small but pivotal role of Katniss’ first crush and brooding hunting buddy, Gale, Hutcherson scored the coveted role of Peeta, an upperclass baker’s son who becomes Katniss’ forced ally in the government run Hunger Games which pits teenaged tributes against each other in a nationally televised battle to the death.
Just earlier today, news on some of the film’s smaller (but by no means less important) roles broke. Amandla Stenberg and Dayo Okeniyi were revealed as Rue and Thresh respectively. Both characters are tributes rendered unto the brutal mechanization of the Hunger Games. At first glance, Rue, who is among the youngest and smallest of these adolescent gladiators, may seem like easy prey to the more vicious tributes. However, like the birds she sings too, she proves elusive and a wily survivor. Thresh serves as her foil, a young man with a muscular build and no-nonsense demeanor, he is instantly deemed a threat by the others, and deservedly so.
Now, where does Banks fit into this frightening world of intrigue and teenage warriors? Well, Effie Trinket is a woman from the tyrannical Capitol who serves as the public relations liaison for Katniss and Peeta as they tour Panem (the smoking remnants of what was once the United States), prior to their entry in the Hunger Games. Effie is presented as a bubbly with a bite. As such Banks is a great choice, and one that is likely to attract older audience members who have seen her comedic turns on 30 Rock and The 40-Year-Old Virgin.
With all this casting news coming down in such short order, I predict we’ll begin hearing rumblings about possible Haymitch choices anytime now. Though I’d bet with this film being such a hot topic, there’ll be no debate but rather a proclamation of a smashing actor being “in talks.” Will it be it be one of our picks? We’ll soon see!
What do you think of Elizabeth Banks as Effie? Who would you like to see play Haymitch?