Because it’s a day that ends in “y” there’s another Hunger Games cast update to announce – well several. First off, EW’s revealed that the roles of the tributes of District 5 have been cast. As with much of the tribute casting, the roles have been filled by unknowns: Chris Mark, who fittingly has a lengthy background in stunts, and Jacqueline Emerson, who voiced Donkey on the short-lived animated series Father of the Pride. Both are sure to be little more than featured extra roles, as the District 5 tributes were never named, though the wily red-headed girl was nicknamed Foxface by Katniss (whose to be played by Jennifer Lawrence.)
In other news, Vulture has claimed that Woody Harrelson has been offered the role of Seneca Crane, the Head Gamemaker of the 74th Hunger Games. However, it’s worth noting that Vulture had previously claimed John C. Reilly was in talks to play the drunken mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, which the actor himself later denied. Even Vulture admits that a dense fog of secrecy has begun to surround the film’s development as agents (and sometimes their assistants) are forced to sign nondisclosure agreements before the producers will commit to an offer. In other words – let’s take the following news with a grain of salt.
Vulture insists that Stanley Tucci and Lenny Kravitz are both in talks for The Hunger Games, though there’s no word on who they may play. Because of his sassy turn in The Devil Wears Prada, Tucci was an early favorite on our own Hunger Games cast picks for the role of fashion designer Cinna, but with Kravitz also mentioned – I wonder if Tucci may be cast as the cruel President Snow with Kravitz set to play the rebellious fashion icon. I mean that would fit. Personally, I’m still hoping for someone younger and less expected to play Cinna. But my guess is we’ll hear more official news within the week.
And last but not least, a bit of pseudo-news I’m reporting because I personally love when celebs geek out: Kristen Bell is self-admitted Hunger Games fanatic. She’s been tweeting:
“I’m not just ‘a’ hunger games fan. THE hunger games fan. read both books twice” … “2nd time i read it aloud 2 friends & did different voices for each character. i am the king of the nerds!”
Then, in a move so nerdy I adore it, she literally passed a note to /Film declaring:
Of course HG fans know Johanna Mason doesn’t surface until the second book, Catching Fire. But I admire Bell’s moxie, and would love to see her play the exhibitionist Hunger Games champ who makes Katniss understandably nervous. Of course, there’s a ways to go til a Johanna casting but it’s fun to dream.
What do you think of the lastest in HG news? Who will Tucci & Kravitz play? Can you see Bell as Johanna?