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May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor

Armie Hammer and Garrett Hedlund on the Short List to Play Finnick in Catching Fire

by Jamie Frevele | 11:50 am, June 1st, 2012


May the casting speculation begin for the sequel to The Hunger Games! Lionsgate has an official short list out for the strapping lads who are up for the role of Finnick Odair, a fellow victor who appears not just in Catching Fire, but also in Mockingjay (which may or may not be split into two movies). And the not-Robert Pattinsons on that list: Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy) and Armie Hammer (The Social Network). Earlier this week, Taylor Kitsch (John Carter, Battleship) was reportedly on this list, too. And I think it’s safe to say that Hollywood is now allergic to him.

So we don’t have to deal with any racially-based “surprises” like some (moronic) people did with Rue, here is a quick reminder of how Suzanne Collins described Finnick Odair, the trident-wielding victor from District 4. From the Hunger Games Wiki:

[H]e is described as being extremely handsome. He is tall, muscular, and athletic, with tan skin, bronze-colored hair, and “incredible” sea green eyes…

When we consider the futuristic world of The Hunger Games — not to mention the growing number of racially-mixed children — determining Finnick’s actual race is far from a no-brainer. And Collins herself has said about the racial backgrounds of her characters, “It is a time period where hundreds of years have passed from now. There’s been a lot of ethnic mixing.” And that’s why there was a Facebook campaign by fans to get Jesse Williams of The Cabin in the Woods, whose background is black and Swedish and who also happens to have “incredible” green-blue eyes. Of course, there was a backlash (by kinda-racist people).

This campaign most likely did not play into the decisions of the Hollywood suits, though. But I have to admit, Hedlund looks like he might do the slightly-deranged thing well. Hammer is also believable as an extremely handsome young man who was basically pimped out by the government. Personally, I think Hedlund has an edge here because he seems, well, edgier. Hammer, who has literally been Prince Charming (in Mirror Mirror, which we’ll just go ahead and forget about now that Snow White and the Huntsman is in theaters), just screams “Harvard” for me. Maybe if he colored his hair a darker shade of blond? Hmm. I’ll let the casting directors duke this one out. Both actors are probably up for the physical demands though, that’s for sure.

As for Taylor Kitsch, he told the LA Times that his participation in the franchise was “not going to happen.” Poor guy, he just can’t seem to catch a break after costing Disney all that money on John Carter (that it promptly made back on The Avengers, but still) and then bombing in Battleship. Either he needs a good part in another amazing franchise, or he needs a solid, memorable supporting role in an amazing indie flick. Someone, please throw Tim Riggins a bone!

(via Daily Blam, MTV, LA Times)

Previously in The Hunger Games

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Carey-Cawthorne/1295384953 Carey Cawthorne

    Poor Taylor Kitsch. His career should be doing a lot better than it is. :(

  • Terence Ng

    I think Hedlund’s my pic from the two. He looks like how I imagined Finnick would look. No idea about his acting creds, though.

  • http://twitter.com/hmbscully WendyD

    Armie Hammer would work for me.

  • Carmen Sandiego

    I still want Williams, dash it all!

  • http://nmlop.tumblr.com/ nmlop

    If we can’t have Jessie Williams, those guys are at least what I imagine a white Finnick would look like. But then I do usually imagine him more like Jessie Williams…

  • Anonymous

    Disappointed in no Williams, but I’m sure costume/make-up will transform these guys into something that works. They’re not unattractive, that’s for sure. They just look too much like Gale for my tastes. Can’t pick who I “prefer” but I kinda don’t want Hedlund … he looks a little weaselly.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_R7GVNIKWG3S2UTHEQOMSZXT4M4 Anna B

    I was a fan of the Jesse Williams casting. Those eyes just… they’re JUST.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_R7GVNIKWG3S2UTHEQOMSZXT4M4 Anna B

    Me too!!  Since I heard about Williams, I couldn’t imagine Finnick any other way.

  • http://twitter.com/newenglandteen Nat Mac

    Garrett Hedlund has been my pick since i read the books years ago <3

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/5ZXIEGCAFZ4F7LBI6QTTN3YJCY Ashe

    If it’s not going to be Jesse Williams, it better be Garrett Hedlund. He’s more than just (very) good looking, but has the acting chops to pull off a complex character. 

  • Xandra Dust

    My only issue with Hedlund is that (in this picture) he looks sort of like a boy next door type. The facial expression of Hammer is a little more like Finnick to me. Although I’m hoping that the make up will make either of them appear much more blonde and well, Finnick like.

  • Francesca M

    ….. WAIT WAIT WAIT… I COULD HAVE TIM RIGGINS AS FINNICK!!?!?!?

    TAKE MY MONEY! TAKE IT!

  • Anonymous

    Full disclosure: I’m a FNL fan. That having been said, I think it’s pretty fair to say that Taylor Kitsch didn’t tank John Carter, DISNEY did that. There was a whole thing where one executive was trying to oust another executive and there’s rumors that they deliberately didn’t run a tight marketing campaign for the movie in order to push the executive out. No one in the industry has said “Taylor Kitsch ruined John Carter.” He did great work as Riggins, so I have faith that it’s not his acting ability that’s the problem but rather his agent and possibly his aesthetic.

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