With a fall production start rumbling forward, Lionsgate is pushing forward on casting for their lucrative The Hunger Games franchise. We got an update earlier today that Amanda Plummer will be joining newcomers Philip Seymour Hoffman and Jena Malone, as well as the rest of the returning gang including Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Lenny Kravitz and Toby Jones. Now some new names have been added to the ring, thanks to Variety.
The trade reports that they may have found the hotly contested role of Finnick Odair in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, with the choice being Sam Claflin, who has already had blockbuster experience in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Snow White and the Huntsman. No offer has been made, but one expect one soon. Also being considered to join the ensemble are Melissa Leo in the role of Finnick’s mentor, Mags, as well as Monk star Tony Shalhoub for Betee, who invents a forcefield to use in the games. Again, nothing has been confirmed so may the odds be ever in their favor.
In a more interesting update, Anne Thompson is reporting that the studio wants to change up the director yet again for the final, two-part films. As we know, Gary Ross had enough with the franchise after the first film, handing over the reigns to Francis Lawrence. It looks the man (or, hopefully woman) behind the camera will chance again as it’s reported “Summit’s Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger, producers Nina Jacobson and author Suzanne Collins are currently vetting the right directors” for this two-part finale. It’s nice to see them shake things up a bit for the franchise, akin to Harry Potter‘s early years. As Hunger Games news updates have been going, expect that shortlist for directors to arrive momentarily.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (don’t they just roll off the tongue?) arrive in their respective order every November from 2013 until 2015.
Are you excited for this batch of actors to possibly join Catching Fire? Who should direct Mockingjay(s)?