More news keeps pouring in about the second film in The Hunger Games series, Catching Fire. First we heard that Amanda Plummer had officially joined the film, then we heard that Lionsgate is looking for a director to helm the final two movies in the franchise (the final book, Mockingjay, is being split into two films a la Harry Potter).
Now, we have yet another casting rumor for you. Sam Claflin‘s name has been thrown in the mix to play the part of Finnick Odair, a “former victor of the games who crosses paths with Katniss and Peeta during a particularly crucial moment.”
Claflin’s not exactly a household name, but he did have parts in Pirate of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Snow White and the Huntsman. Granted, neither of these were good movies, but they certainly helped get him noticed.
Meanwhile, the rumors continue as there is also word going around that Melissa Leo and Tony Shalhoub could be playing Mags and Beetee, respectively. Mags is “Finnick’s mentor who takes the place of his lover in the games and becomes an ally with Katniss” while Beetee is “an inventor nicknamed Volts because of his penchant with electricity.”
This project is certainly attracting some big names. We already know that Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman has a role, and now recent Oscar winner Melissa Leo could be in it too? As well as Monk himself, Tony Shalhoub? This one could turn out to be worth seeing for just the cast alone.
I found The Hunger Games to be a decent film. Not great, but good. It was basically a toned-down version of Kinji Fukasaku‘s masterpiece Battle Royale, but with the little originality that it had, it managed to be entertaining. I look forward to seeing where this series goes though, especially since I’ve never read the books.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is due out in theaters on November 22, 2013.
(Source: The Playlist)
