#HungerGames: Finnick and Johanna and Beetee, Oh My!
Lionsgate is wrapping up the casting for my next flick, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and I am a kitten in a tub of milk over all the news!
Sam Claflin gave me a tummy flutter in Snow White and The Huntsman so I couldn't be happier that he's taking on the role of Finnick Odair.
Jena Malone will play Katniss’s sarcastic frenemy Johanna Mason. She's got grit and spunk in spades. Quote me on that.
The amazing Jeffrey Wright will play fan fave Beetee. We worked together on Oliver Stone's W - he's never less than perfection.
You can see a full breakdown of the Catching Fire cast so far on the official The Hunger Games Facebook page.
We’ll start shooting this fall, so stay tuned for more news from the set of Catching Fire. I’m excited to work with everyone in the cast, and you know I can’t wait to transform into Effie again - crazy nail art, wigs, and all.
What are you looking forward to most about Catching Fire?
Photo sources: Jason LaVeris/Film Magic via Rolling Stone, Jason LaVeris/Film Magic, IMDB / Still of Jeffrey Wright in Casino Royale
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17 comments
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We're just going to have to agree to disagree - yet again :^). That quote strikes me as another example of Effie's reliance on manners to both resolve her own cognitive dissonance, and try to elevate other people's perception of her; and of her frustration at not being the ambassador to a more prestigious district. -
I'm with Andrada. I've loved Effie since way before we knew Elizabeth would be her.
She became my favourite after this line in THG:
“Well, it serves them right. It’s their job to pay attention to you. And just because you come from District Twelve is no excuse to ignore you.” Then her eyes dart around as if she’s said something totally outrageous. “I’m sorry, but that’s what I think,” she says to no one in particular. -
Actually, Effie became one of my favorite characters when reading the books. Along with Johanna. And that was before we found out Banks would play Effie. So I do believe I would like her if I were to spend time with her in real life.
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Effie is cold. She doesn't seem personally cruel, but she is willing to support the cruelness of The Capitol system in which she believes. Everyone suffers in a totalitarian regime, but some also enjoy the benefits of that system. Effie enjoys those benefits and shows not a sign of guilt over where her fancy outfits, great food, and mahogany furniture come from.
We all want to like the movie version Effie. But that is as much about liking Elizabeth Banks as it is liking Effie Trinket. I suspect none of us would like Effie Trinket if we had to spend time with her in real life (our real life, not the Capitol's). She is way too uptight, self entitled, and condescending to be interesting to anyone outside of Mitt Romney's social circle. -
-------SPOILERS-------
I agree with Michael in that I hope they show Effie being arrested. Because, a lot of people (at least a lot of people I know) think Effie's cold, cruel, and bordering on evil. Which is not true. I want people to know that Effie suffered, too. *heartbroken* :/ -
I've read all the books twice. Once on my own and once with my daughter. I never had the feeling that Effie was superficial. Eccentric in the way that Capitol people are eccentric but not superficial. She is a functionary of the regime, and a full subscriber to it's cause and methods.
Anyone living in a regime like The Capitol would have to be very slow not to realize they are oppressed and there are certain things they can not do or say or even think. But they may see that as the cost of leading the luxurious lives they lead. I suspect Effie does. She may feel that it is sad what happens to the people in District 12 and the kids who are selected for the games. That sadness may be what she is covering up with her peculiar offhanded comments. It doesn't mean she doesn't believe entirely in the correctness of what she is doing.
Yes, she does figure out that all of this is wrong, unethical, inhuman. But I don't see her having figured it out until she herself is arrested and sitting in that cell. -
Michael, I'm not saying Effie doesn't wish she had a better district but if you read the books carefully there are moments that hint at Effie being more than just superficial.
Elizabeth says it perfectly "My character, Effie, is oppressed and knows it. Some people want to write her off as comic relief, but Effie knows exactly what goes on. These dumb things she says are masking her feelings. In District 12, they always lose. She’s sending kids to their death. In every great social fight there are people on the wrong side — there are people that loved Hitler, or had slaves. Effie’s on the wrong side in ‘The Hunger Games’ — and she’s about to figure that out." -
SPOILER ALERT: for those who haven't read all three books I'm going to give away some secrets in this post.
Phoebe, I think you have it wrong about Effie Trinket. If you could ask her what her biggest concern or gripe about the Capitol was she would say she feels she should be representing a better district, District 1 or 2. District 12 is beneath her. I'm quite certain that is how she feels. And I'm certain she remains that way right up until she is arrested after Katniss escapes the Quarter Quell.
If I hope for anything unlikely to appear in this movie it is seeing Effie Trinket being arrested, something that did not happen in the book. I want to know how she handles it and what she makes of it. I understand Snow's feeling perfectly. He is not imprisoning her because she failed in some way and deserves to be punished. He is imprisoning her as a warning to others that the consequences of being involved with something that makes the Capitol (Him) look less than omnipotent are dire. If she had truly done something wrong, if indeed there was anything she could have done to discourage or prevent Katniss escape and she had failed to do it he would have killed her, probably in a very public way. And if he had ever even remotely felt that Effie had some anti-Capitol sentiment she would have disappeared immediately. The fact that a highly suspicious control freak like Snow never suspected her of being opposed to him in any way is good reason to believe there was nothing to suspect her of. As Elizabeth put it "She drank the Kool-Aid." -
I watch a lot of movies, and I'm really picky. Having said that, the casting for 'Catching Fire' has been absolutely amazing. I'm loving every choice they've made so far.
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He gave me tummy flutters in Snow White and The Huntsman, as well! You are super lucky to be working with all of those amazing people! I can't wait to see more of Effie. She's a great character, and words can't even describe what a good job you did of portraying her. Hats off to you, Elizabeth! Have fun, and may the odds be ever in your favor!:) -
I am so excited for this movie and I can't believe we'll have to wait another year and then some more for it to come out. Saw some photos from the sets the other day and I went bananas!
Hopefully we'll see some Effie/Haymitch/Effie&Haymitch photos as well.
I could not be happier with the cast, I've always liked Jena Malone and I think she'll do a superb job portraying Johanna. Same goes for Claflin and Wright.
I'm looking forward to the interviews scenes, I've always thought the holding hands part to be an emotional one. I'd also like to see what happens to Effie when she gets arrested, as well as the rest of the prep team.
And I have to agree with @Phoebe on this one, please falter over Haymitch's name at the reaping!
Can it be 2013 already? -
I'm so exited!!!!I can't wait anymore. I hope there will be more Hayffie in this movie!!!!I love Hayffie soooooooo... Much I can't say it in words.
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I am looking forward to it coming out! Wish we didn't have to wait so long for the next one :(
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I am looking forward to how they put this book to the screen, there are so many intricate scenes that I can't wait to see how they do it all. -
I am suuper excited about this cast!! It's perfect. Just like The Hunger Games cast was. :')
Please post set pictures when you start filming!
I'm most excited to see the other districts and to see more of Effie's compassion. Please make sure she falters over Haymitch's name at the reaping and appears a bit more caring... Because she really is caring and kinda anti-Capitol and don't get me wrong, I love love love movie Effie and you were perfect but we didn't really see that side of Effie in the movie.
I would also love it if there was a sequence showing Effie and others getting arrested. ;)
I'm just super excited! -
Just finally seeing it come to life on the big screen. I am loving the cast for Catching Fire and can not wait to see all of it come together! I am not usually a fan of the books and the movies Harry Potter changed that for me. Now Hunger Games has sparked it all over again for me So far I love both the books and movie! I am just so excited for the release of Catching Fire!
