Casting the Next Hunger Games Movies - A Few Options

Whoever they pick will probably be perfect and better than any of our choices, since they did a pretty good job casting the first movie, but we thought it would be fun to try it.  For heaven's sake, don't read this if you haven't read books two and three of the Hunger Games trilogy. You won't know who these people are and there are spoilers.

Annie Cresta

In the books: Insane Annie was in her early 20s. She had dark hair, sea green eyes, and good, but messy, looks. Possible actresses: Troian Bellisario plays Spencer Hastings on Pretty Little Liars and wanted the part of Katniss, but she couldn't get an audition. She has the small, waif frame that would fit someone in the Hunger Games series and we think she'd be a better Annie. We've already seen Spencer act all kinds of crazy and vulnerable on PLL. Since she's such a fan, we think she should be considered. Another option we liked when we saw it suggested was Alison Brie. Carey Mulligan wouldn't be a bad choice either. She's got the innocent, cute, and bewildered look down. Rooney Mara from Girl with the Dragon Tattoo could also do this part. Really, just about anyone could do this part. Annie probably won't have lots of lines. Hollywood is full of young, pretty girls who can look a little crazy.

President Coin

In the books: Alma Coin was in her 50s with grey, shoulder-length hair. She has “eyes that can see right through you” even though she is plain looking. Possible actress: We're going with a safe bet and picking Emma Thompson as our first choice for this one. This actress is good in everything she does, so we think she can nail Coin too. She's the right age, she has charisma, and she doesn't look like a bitch. In the books, you weren't quite sure whether to trust Coin for a while. Thompson's likability can trick new audiences into wondering if she's just another Snow or if she's a good, strong female leader. 

Commander Paylor

In the books: Paylor is in her early 30s. She is young looking, with dark eyes and very dark hair. Possible actresses: What about How I Met Your Mother's Cobie Smulders? She fits the physical description without looking too girly or weak. We'd believe her as a commander because we believe Robin Scherbatsky could kick our arses. She comes across as strong and assertive. We'd believe Natalie Portman in this role too, but she is probably too pretty and too famous.

Mags

In the books: Mags is 80 years old. Possible actress: The only choice is Ellen Burstyn. We saw a site suggest her and haven't been able to ditch the suggestion. She was in Requiem for a Dream and she was perfect. Also, Ellen is 79, so she is the perfect age. It's not like they would be taking a 60-year-old, dying her hair white and trying to make it pass. We really can't think of anyone else, unless they decide to go with an unknown.

Johanna Mason

In the books: Johanna is in her 20s with wide-set brown eyes and short, spiky hair. Possible actresses: There are plenty of actresses who could do this. They just have to pull off snarky. The queens of snark right now are Brie Larson and Emma Stone. We are huge Emma Stone fans, but after watching Brie in both Rampart and United States of Tara, we know that Brie can pull off Johanna's attitude without depressing us too much. And hey, she's already worked with Woody Harrelson. Brie may actually be Johanna, in Ern's opinion. Leeard has only seen Brie in kid's shows. If you've seen her, it was probably in Scott Pilgrim. Another option is Emelia Clarke from Game of Thrones.

Wiress

In the books: Wiress is in her mid-40s with ashen skin and black hair. People are saying Helena Bonham Carter, and while we like her, we've seen her do crazy a thousand times (which she does very, very well). She did this in Harry Potter. We don't need her overdoing it in The Hunger Games series and stealing too many scenes. We saw Helena do something different in The King's Speech and we liked it. We think she should do that for a while, just for something different. Our Wiress pick is Parker Posey. She's equally crazy and equally good at acting. She's close enough to the right age (43), and we think she'd be fun in this.

Finnick Odair

In the books: This is the guy that really has to be hot, more so than Gale or Peeta. He is tall, with a good body and tan skin. His hair is bronze-colored and his eyes are green. He is 24. Possible actors: We have a mutual friend who is adamant that it should be Garrett Hedlund, and Leeard admits that he is the best option she has seen on Tumblr. Ern doesn't think she cares for Garrett as an actor, and Finnick carries some emotion in the books. The actor needs to bring something to the table. Would Zach Roerig from The Vampire Diaries be good? It might be time to find a soulful, good-looking unknown and make his career by putting him in these movies, because there is no one out there right now that we are crazy about. We doubt we will be happy with anyone in this role.

Plutarch Heavensbee 

In the books: Age, unknown. No physical description that we can find on the internet and we forget from the books. If you forget who this is, it's the new head gamekeeper and rebel against Snow. Possible actors: Aw man, any older guy who looks suspicious and intimidating. We think he's a bad guy at first, then we don't, and then we leave the series thinking ill of him. It has to be someone who can make us like or dislike him at the drop of a hat. Christian Bale and Viggo Mortensen can both do this. We're going with Viggo, since we've seen him play undercover possible villain before in Eastern Promises. Also, he seems like a nicer guy in real life and would be more fun on the set than the ever-serious Bale.

Beetee

In the books: He’s in his 50s or 60s. He has ashen skin and black hair. He is also small. Possible actors: We wanted to go with John Lithgow or Gary Oldman for this one, but we wouldn't call either of them small. Especially Lithgow. Tim Roth (Reservoir Dogs, Rob Roy) always comes across as tiny, and he's certainly weird enough for this part. Since Lie to Me is off the air, Tim needs something new to do. We don't much care who gets this part though.

Dr. Aurelius

In the books: We don’t have much information on his age or appearance. Possible actors: This is a nice guy. He gives mental health treatment to a couple of the main characters and covers for Katniss once. We need someone comforting and nurturing who comes across as having both integrity and the ability to break stupid rules. We saw James McAvoy drinking and playing around in X-Men: First Class, but we also saw him being a mentor to kids, as well as a kind friend to an angry Magneto. Plus, we love him and think he's hot. We'd take an excuse to put him in anything. We also wouldn't hesitate to choose Joel Edgerton, who exuded kindness, maturity, and likability in Animal Kingdom. If you don't know that name yet, you will.  

Boggs

In the books: Mid-40s. Close-cropped grey hair and blue eyes. Possible actors: We can see Jason Isaacs doing this well, and he is a more appropriate age than our other option. But we think it would be fun to have Sean Bean in the role, because he is his own spoiler alert for people who don't read the books and don't know Boggs dies. They deserve to be spoiled by the mere presence of Bean, who usually dies. Plus, you can't turn down a guy who was in Game of Thrones AND The Lord of the Rings. This guy is destined to be in good franchises. And die in them.