LATEST NEWS
Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth Officially Join 'Hunger Games'
by Ethan Anderton
April 4, 2011
Though we've known for a little while Jennifer Lawrence is taking the lead role of Katniss Everdeen in the anticipated adaptation of The Hunger Games, we've still been waiting to hear who would be taking the supporting male roles in the film. Alex Pettyfer and Josh Hutcherson were said to be in the running, and now Lionsgate has confirmed one of those names for a role. In a press release today, it was revealed that Hutcherson will be playing Peeta Mellark, while Liam Hemsworth (The Last Song) had snagged the role of Gale Hawthorne. Details on each character from Suzanne Collins' series of novels can be found below.
Here's a rundown of the characters and their involvement in the story from the press release:
Peeta accompanies heroine Katniss Everdeen into the 74th annual Hunger Games as the male tribute chosen from their native District 12, the most remote and marginalized district of all the subjugated districts of Panem. At the outset of the Games, Peeta publicly confesses his longtime feelings for Katniss, setting up one of the most fascinating fictional rapports of all time with his supposed arena rival.
Though Katniss and Gale have never had a romantic relationship, they share a transcendent bond, often of few words. When Katniss volunteers to participate in the 74th Annual Hunger Games in her younger sister’s stead, they both presume that bond will carry her far through the horrors she will face in the arena, and they each silently hope they’ll be reunited in safety on the other side of the ordeal.
Directed by Gary Ross, The Hunger Games chronicles a dystopic Capitol which requires its twelve subjugated districts to pay tribute in the form of a teenage boy and girl, forced to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight-to-the-death live televised event. Katniss Everdeen’s little sister is chosen in the lottery to participate and Katniss volunteers to take her place. Although persevering through hardship is commonplace for Katniss, she must start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love in order to win the games and return home. Sounds pretty intense. What do you think of the casting?
12 Comments
1
not bad
A5J4DX on Nov 13, 2018
2
not bad
A5J4DX on Nov 13, 2018
3
Looks-wise, neither of them are too far from my mental image of the characters. Acting-wise, as always, I will wait for the finished film to judge!
equustel on Apr 4, 2011
4
I wish the cast was a bit more olive-skinned. I'm just glad they didn't go with Alex Pettyfer.
fem!anon on Apr 4, 2011
5
Liam Hemsworth honestly looks more like Peeta's description from the novels... I'm willing to give them a chance, but this casting definitely does not excite me/make me too happy.
Emma on Apr 5, 2011
6
You are totally right! I think they look nothing like the characters described in the book. I think that Liam is a better Peeta and Josh Hutcherson looks more like I imagined Gale. Well, we will see.
Laura on Apr 21, 2011
7
I agree. I know that Peeta's supposed to be stocky, but I always thought that his face would be a lot softer. Josh Hutcherson does not seem to fit what I imagined for Peeta. I guess that, as a lover of the book series, I should have very low expectations for the movie adaptation. Movies never quite live up to the books...
Jen on Apr 23, 2011
8
So far, this entire movie is sort of a casting fail. Hemsworth is the closest, but still... I'm dissappointed.
Angrybell on Apr 5, 2011
9
I haven't seen them in anything, that I know of. I just hope they're both really, really good actors. This makes me nervous..
Traveler on Apr 5, 2011
10
I cannot STAND how excited I am about this casting. Josh as Peeta is wonderful, & I am even more excited that Alex Pettyfer simply wasn't cast. Haven't seen anything with Liam in it, but he fits the "look" of Gale for me.
Teacherkid on Apr 5, 2011
11
Hear that? Its the sound of another film adaptation being complete white washed! Racebending...ftw?
DavidPD on Apr 5, 2011
12
I don't think the author would be white washing her own characters. Heck, I've been described as olive skinned and I am quite caucasian. British Canadian on one side, Irish American on the other, third generation. So I don't see a problem with a tanned, dyed grey eyed Jennifer being Catniss.
Gaelish2 on Apr 13, 2011
New comments are no longer allowed on this post.
FEATURED POSTS
FOLLOW FS HERE
Follow Alex's main account on Twitter:
Add our posts to your Feedly › click here
Get all the news sent on Telegram 
LATEST TO WATCH