Katniss Everdeen
Katniss is described as having "straight black hair, olive skin [and]... gray eyes." She is athletic and strong from her many hours of hunting, but notes that she is smaller than other, well-fed tributes in her training session before the 74th Hunger Games.
Actual: Jennifer Lawrence
Fan Cred: Not a lot is known of Lawrence.
Acting Chops: Can you say Oscar Nom Baby!
Face Time: Not at all a Katniss look-a-like but it is amazing what they can do with makeup and hair dye.
Fan Cast: Malese Jow
Fan Cred: As the vampire Anna in The Vampire Diaries, we know she's tough.
Acting Chops: A few TV shows and some small movie rolls.
Face Time: She's got the look!
I have been a supporter of Jennifer for Katniss for months! I think she has the necessary acting chops, confidence and strength to bring our heroine to life and can't wait to see her post-Katniss makeover.
Amanda B, Tunkhannock, PA (Admin: The Hob)
Peeta Mellark
Peeta is described as having "ashy blond hair that falls in waves over his forehead", blue eyes, and a stocky build. He is also very strong from lifting hundred-pound bags of flour at the family bakery.
Actual: Josh Hutcherson
Fan Cred: He seems to fit Peeta’s personality, quiet but not weak.
Acting Chops: Generally considered a good actor.
Face Time: Stocky? Strong? At 5’7” he is the same height as Jennifer. I’m not sure how this will play out on screen. Check out a fansite rendering on Hunger Games Movie.
Fan Cast: Hunter Parrish
Fan Cred: Silas is not the person we picture as Peeta.
Acting Chops: As a regular on Weeds we know he could do it.
Face Time: Fits the part with classic blond hair/blue eye looks.
It's sad that fansites like ours have been speculating and suggesting for so long and then they go and cast somebody nobody supported. Josh looks like he could be Jennifer's son or brother. I don't see them working in a romantic way at all. I do hope it works out, but for now I am not happy.
Chloe (Admin: The Hunger Games Tribute)
Gale Hawthorne
Gale has black hair, olive skin and shares Katniss's grey eyes. His good looks are mentioned throughout the series; he is muscular and good looking, girls flock to him.
Actual: Liam Hemsworth
Fan Cred: Not a big name among fans.
Acting Chops: Some TV and movies. Not as well known as his brother Chris.
Face Time: Seems a bit large for Gale both in height (6’ 4 ¾”) and build.
Fan Cast: Drew Roy
Fan Cred: With a Disney background, he is well known.
Acting Chops: Hannah Montana and iCarly don’t really spell revolution.
Face Time: Almost a perfect match to Suzanne Collins’ description.
I have seen Liam Hemsworth in the TV Show The Elephant Princess where he was a part of the main love triangle - so I can totally see him play Gale.
Tanvi, New Delhi, India (Admin: Hunger Games Network)
Rue: Female Tribute from District 11
Being the youngest of the tributes at the age of 12, Rue is naturally the smallest. Rue has thick, dark hair, dark brown skin and eyes.
Actual: Amandla Stenberg
Fan Cred: None
Acting Chops: A lot of commercial work.
Face Time: Has the innocence we want to see in Rue.
Fan Cast: Madison Pettis
Fan Cred: Often regarded as too perky.
Acting Chops: A veteran actor at age 13.
Face Time: Perfect sweetness with a bit of underlying strength.
I'm sure she'll be a perfect Rue. She has the look and the agility as Amandla worked recently on a Luc Besson movie in which she performed several of her own stunts. It should be easy for her to climb trees. Rue is a beloved character in the novel. The chemistry between her and Katniss is really important.
Bertrand B. - Paris, France (Admin: Hunger Games France)
Thresh: Male Tribute from District 11
Thresh is adorned with dark brown skin and dark hair. Katniss said that with his massive size, six and a half foot tall, and dark colored skin, he was set with muscles like an ox.
Actual: Dayo Okeniyi
Fan Cred: None
Acting Chops: He has more experience in theater than in film.
Face Time: At 5’ 11”, he is not the massive character from the book.
Fan Cast: Harrison Knight
Fan Cred: None
Acting Chops: One episode roles in a few TV series.
Face Time: Has the looks but not the height or build.
It's exciting to have some unknown actors step into these roles. This will really allow them to make the roles their own and to really become the characters for the fans. We won't be looking at Dayo onscreen and remembering other projects he has worked on, we will see him just as the a District 11 Tribute. It also helps how much they truly look the parts, at least in my mind, (and many fans as well, as we've heard an overwhelming positive response). Dayo looks almost a big brother to Amandla which is sweet.
Theresa M, Shepherd, MI (Admin: Down With The Capitol)
Glimmer: Female Tribute from District 1
Katniss described Glimmer to be tall, with flowing blonde hair and emerald eyes. She was described as beautiful or downright sexy.
Actual: Leven Rambin
Fan Cred: Very popular from many TV roles.
Acting Chops: Not a lot of film experience but she is the go-to girl for TV series.
Face Time: Perfect, right down to the green eyes!
Fan Cast: Cindy Busby
Fan Cred: Four seasons on the Canadian series Heartland made her a fan favorite.
Acting Chops: Many years on TV with few movie roles.
Face Time: The dyed-blond fit the bill.
I remember how so many fans had said that Jennifer Lawrence should've been picked up for Glimmer, not Katniss. But when you see Leven, you can instantly see the emerald-eyed Glimmer looking back at you. I'm amazed at how perfect the casting is ever since the fans erupted so badly at the whole "fiasco" the top three casting were. Leven is a great actress, I've seen her in so many projects and I'm really excited to see her in The Hunger Games as well!
Tanvi, New Delhi, India (Admin: Hunger Games Network)
Marvel: Male Tribute from District 1
Marvel was strong and rather tall , like all the other Careers. Much like Cato, Marvel was ruthless and brutal, though much unlike his fellow Career, Marvel seemed to be rather smart.
Actual: Jack Quaid
Fan Cred: Son of Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan.
Acting Chops: None
Face Time: He appears to be over 6'. He has a very young look that may play well with the other characters.
Fan Cast: Carter Jenkins
Fan Cred: Staring role in Valentine's Day made him a heart-throb.
Acting Chops: Multiple episode runs on canceled TV series.
Face Time: Looks every bit the part.
I am hoping that Jack can pull off the brutal personality of Marvel, because he just looks too nice...but I guess that is where good acting will come into play.
Pauline H, Wesley Hills, NY (Admin: The Hob)
Primrose Everdeen
Prim has fair skin, blond hair and blue eyes. She has a small stature, partly due to being underfed for the majority of her life. Katniss describes her as having a face "as fresh as a raindrop, as lovely as the primrose for which she was named".
Actual: Willow Shields
Fan Cred: She's from Albuquerque!
Acting Chops: Very little experience.
Face Time: Not the look fans anticipated but she is young and innocent.
Fan Cast: Elle Fanning
Fan Cred: As Dakota's younger sister she's been a fan favorite for many years.
Acting Chops: Small roles in a lot of TV and movies.
Face Time: Has the look but at 5'6" she is much taller than Willow's 4'7".
Perfection! Willow is precisely how I pictured Prim. She looks young, but has this haunted quality that Prim has reflecting all she has been through at her age. I am excited to see her take on this role.
Theresa M, Shepherd, MI (Admin: Down With The Capitol)
Mrs. Everdeen
With blonde hair and blue eyes, Mrs. Everdeen was a real beauty. Katniss says she now looks worn down and beaten.
Actual: Paula Malcomson
Fan Cred: Beginning to up her cred with roles in SyFy and FX shows.
Acting Chops: From Deadwood, we know she can do worn down.
Face Time: "Perfect" There is nothing else to say.
Fan Cast: Keri Russell
Fan Cred: Has been a fan favorite since Felicity.
Acting Chops: Has she ever played serious drama?
Face Time: Could have pulled it off with a bleach job.
I was so thrilled to hear about the casting of Paula Malcolmson as Katniss and Prim's mother Mrs. Everdeen. Although she wasn't specifically named in the book, we got some good insights into her character including her battle with depression after the loss of her husband, her history and friendship with past tributes that were killed in the previous Hunger Games, and her inner strength as a healer, and attempts to be a source of support for her daughters. I think that Paula with her long acting experience in various television shows will bring a maturity, and inner strength to the role of Mrs. Everdeen, and I for one am looking forward to seeing her in the film.
Sheila C, Chicago, IL (Admin: HG girl on fire)
Effie Trinket
In The Hunger Games, Effie Trinket has pink hair, speculated to be a wig, and during the reaping wears a spring-green suit. She is proper, uptight and extremely punctual.
Actual: Elizabeth Banks
Fan Cred: She is number six on our Cast-o-Rama.
Acting Chops: Comedy, drama, TV, movies, she's done it all!
Face Time: She's the right build and age and she has perfect cheeks to be both perky and uptight.
Fan Cast: Kristin Chenoweth
Fan Cred: We thought her casting was a forgone conclusion.
Acting Chops: Mostly comedys (and she is very funny!)
Face Time: She chould have really pulled off the pink hair.
Let's be honest - everybody thought Kristin Chenoweth was already Effie even before the casting began. Elizabeth Banks is one of the many surprise entries in the cast list, but one which I'm not really averted to even though there was a perfect Effie. Elizabeth's worked with Gary Ross in Seabiscuit, so I'm guessing that's a plus point for her. As an actress she's great and I'm sure she can pull off the Effie act with ease. I look forward to seeing her in character.
Tanvi, New Delhi, India (Admin: Hunger Games Network)
Foxface
She has fire-red hair and sharp, fox-like features. Foxface also is smaller than most of the tributes.
Actual: Jacqueline Emerson
Fan Cred: None
Acting Chops: None
Face Time: She has an innocent look that may play well for Foxface.
Fan Cast: Zena Grey
Fan Cred: Good following from My Soul to Take.
Acting Chops: A few big screen roles would have prepared her for this little role.
Face Time: Looked like the perfect small red-head.