Another day and another round of casting for Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games, but today instead of unknown younger actors set to fill the roles of District tributes we get word of a couple of familiar faces filling some of the adult roles in the feature. And one of them is a big one.
First for the confirmed casting news as Lionsgate sent out a press release today announcing Paula Malcomson has been cast in the role of Katniss and Primrose Everdeen’s mother (whom I believe is never referred to by a first name) in the film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ best-selling novel. Malcomson is best known to me as Allie Earp from Tombstone, but you may know her better as Trixie from “Deadwood” or as Maureen from “Sons of Anarchy” or perhaps as Amanda Graystone from SyFy’s “Caprica”. Either way, I assume you’re drawing a connection.
Malcomson will play mother to Jennifer Lawrence and Willow Shields whom were previously cast as Katniss and her younger sister Prim. The film will follow Katniss as she volunteers to replace her younger sister in the “Hunger Games”, a yearly ritual in Panem, the dystopian world the film takes place in, in which a teenage boy and girl are forced by “The Capitol” to fight to the death on live TV as a reminder of the power The Capitol holds over them.
Previously cast Amandla Stenberg will play the role of Rue, Dayo Okeniyi is her District 11 partner Thresh, and Leven Rambin and Jack Quaid will star as District 1’s Glimmer and Marvel as they round out the cast of fellow tributes drafted to join District 12 tributes Katniss and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) in the arena.
The second new name mentioned in connection to the film today comes via Vulture‘s Claude Brodesser-Akner saying John C. Reilly has been offered the role of Haymitch Abernathy. Haymitch is the only living person from District 12 to have won the Hunger Games and he will serve as the mentor to Katniss and Peeta. Beyond that, he’s best known as something of a drunken, irascible hermit.
This, of course, isn’t confirmation Reilly has the role, but the casting on this film has stuck pretty close to the rumors so I wouldn’t be surprised to see a press release any later than Monday unless Lionsgate is planning on drawing out the tribute casting for a little longer and saving the Haymitch announcement for the end.
Haymitch is a big name in the story and a role that will draw plenty of attention from fans. If you’ve read the books how do you feel about Reilly for the role?
