As I was reading the book, I always pictured Katniss as


MIssy Peregrim (Heroes, Reaper, Rookie Blue)

I know she is old for the role, but she has the toughness that the character needs

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Classes will resume in August...

Ooooooh, exciting. Far as I can tell, 90% of teen readers have already voiced their casting opinions on-line. I think there are even sites devoted to "who's your Gale?" My girl and her friends were all hot to see I Am Number Four just to get a look at potential Peeta, Alex Pettyfer (too old).

The trio above seems like a "who's hot?" thing right now. I like your choice of Peregrim, but yes, too old, as is Jennifer Lawrence (21 this August). You can do worse than Chloe Moretz or Saoirse Ronan for the part. Neither strike me as especially Katniss-like (more so than Steinfeld or especially Breslin), but it's much more important to get a decent teen actress in this role than it is to get one who nails the look -- in which case I'd probably accept any of the three above without much question.

The one thing I'm sure of is Viggo Mortensen is the perfect Haymitch Abernathy; no other actor comes close.

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Pettyfer.....no, no, no

Don't like Breslin either for it.

As for Haymitch, I always envisioned someone much older, like Brendan Gleeson. But Viggo makes a hell of a lot of sense.

Other girls to consider? Perhaps AnnaSophia Robb or Alexandra Daddario (Albeit this last one is also a bit too old)

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Classes will resume in August...

I might have said yes to Alexandra until seeing her as Annabeth in another YA-of-the-week conversion.

AnnaSophia is a possibility.

Aw, what do I know? So much is going to depend on direction, cinematography and editing, maybe the casting is a moot point.

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Brendan Gleeson as Haymitch is perfect casting. and I, like Seal, pictured her more as Missy or Kunis, but good choices all round.

It's a film that possibly could work, but they'll try to make it the next Twilight mehdness and that could just suck. Plus, with the pacing of the book, it'd be strange as the first and second are completely different genres.

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I'd be happy to kill her, she called me a fish.

just don't fuck this up

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The means it's all ok.

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Classes will resume in August...

Don't fool yourselves; casting will matter very little in the end.

I've said this before but it bears repeating: no one in Hollywood knows how to adapt a YA series. These novels are often way more layered and interesting than many people, filmmakers apparently included, give them credit for. They have substance, something to say, subtle nuances, fleshed-out characters. Yet, somehow, the adaptations we're given often lack all that and instead consist solely of CGI action set pieces. They don't have to be super faithful to every teensy event, but they do have to get the tone and the message right. Otherwise, what's the point? Screenwriters and directors don't seem to realise this; we see book after book being treated this way.

Think about it.

Harry Potter is the closest we've ever gotten, and Cuaron is in my opinion the only one who nailed it. But even if I personally loved seeing that world come to life, let's face it, many of these films have been lacking.

Here are some other examples of excellent YA novels whose film version completely missed the mark: Narnia, His Dark Materials, Percy Jackson, Eragon to a lesser extent. I've not seen I Am Number Four but I will bet anything the same goes there. (I won't touch Twilight in the context of this discussion because although I've not read them, I'm gonna be a presumptive ass and say these books do not qualify as excellent.) I'm sure there must be others currently slipping my mind. Notice also how several of these didn't even get sequels.

There's no reason to believe Hunger Gamer or Maze Runner will be treated any differently. We can hope, but I'm keeping expectations cynically low.

According to Ew.com, the following 7 gals are also under consideration
- Chloe Moretz
- Nikita's Lyndsy Fonseca
- Emma Roberts
- Saoirse Ronan
- Skins U.K. star Kaya Scodelario
- Emily Browning
- Shailene Woodley

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Classes will resume in August...

Finally saw Battle Royale yesterday. Really like THG, but it really seems like a remake/ripoff/whatever.

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La la la la la.

Have you seen the messy sequel yet?
And yeah, when you read how she wrote the hunger games, came up with the idea, we all know it was just BR


Kaya Scodelario is a nice shout as well

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I'd be happy to kill her, she called me a fish.

I haven't seen the sequel; after reading the reviews I'm not sure I want to.

The playing field in Book Deux of THG actually reminds me more of Royale (with Cheese). And of course I should *read* Battle Royale in order to do a better comparison before I start hurling accusations. Not that that's ever stopped me before.

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La la la la la.

Hey, I've got a disciple!

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La la la la la.

WWJJD?

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This needs to be a QuizWise thread.

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It's such a fine line between stupid and clever.

I can picture that being hilarious.

Also, I nominate Batman to write the quiz...

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I'd be happy to kill her, she called me a fish.

Jennifer Lawrence will play Katniss in 'The Hunger Games'

Lionsgate confirmed this afternoon that 20-year-old Jennifer Lawrence, whose blisteringly fine work in Winter’s Bone earned her an Oscar nomination, has landed the coveted role of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games. In director Gary Ross’ adaptation of the first installment to Suzanne Collins’ beloved trilogy, Lawrence will play the 16-year-old tribute from District 12 who’s forced by a vicious government to participate in an annual reality TV death match. “Jennifer’s just an incredible actress,” praised Collins in a statement. “So powerful, vulnerable, beautiful, unforgiving and brave. I never thought we’d find somebody this perfect for the role. And I can’t wait for everyone to see her play it.” Filming is set to begin later this spring with Lionsgate planning a March 23, 2012 release date.

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Classes will resume in August...

If I had a nickel for every time that's been said about me...

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La la la la la.

you'd have a nickel?

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I'd be happy to kill her, she called me a fish.

You're giving him too much credit.

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I'm not insane, my mother had me tested!

So.. latest casting news:

Effie is gonna be played by Elizabeth Banks (I can see it working)

Levin Rambin as Glimmer (like this one)

couple of noobs as Thresh and Rue


It's starting to come together nicely

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I'd be happy to kill her, she called me a fish.

Sources say Josh Hutcherson as Peeta and Liam Hemsworth as Gale. Can't say I'm terribly impressed by either choice. Liam's two biggest roles to date are in The Last Song and Knowing. I'm sure neither was his fault.

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Sister and mother, as well as some of the other Tributes are cast too.

Current rumour is John C. Reilly as Haymitch, which I like, but not as much as the Hugh Laurie suggestion. And Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket, which meh.

The role I've started thinking about, though, is Cinna. I'm going to spend some time mulling it over.

Cinna has to be Alan Cumming, although thats just too obvious

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I'd be happy to kill her, she called me a fish.