Mockingjay: No Spoilers

I finished Mockingjay around 10 PM on Tuesday, the day it came out, and of course I had to put together my fantasy cast as soon as possible. But, don't worry. I will not spoil it for you. I won't tell you who (if anybody) Katniss chooses. I won't talk about any specifics in the struggle against the Capitol. I will not tell you who lives or who dies. I will not even tell you anything about District 13.

 OK, in total and complete honesty, there will be very, very minor spoilers. Some traits and personalities of the new characters; but I promise you there is nothing about their fate(s) or how they play into the story. Just personality stuff.

I promise.

Oh, and before you get too far along here, make sure you read my fantasy casts for The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, the first two books in this trilogy. Don't worry, this post will still be here waiting for you when you get back.

Alma Coin is the woman in charge in District 13. She's harsh and severe, calculating, intelligent and ruthless. Just what you expect from a woman who is leading what amounts to a real, live, actual secret society. The person I pictured the whole time is actually dead today, so that doesn't help us much. However, I did find a woman that I think would be BRILLIANT. Stockard Channing. Not the Rizzo from Grease version, more of an Abby Bartlett from The West Wing version.

Boggs is a soldier (is he a Lieutenant? Do they give him a title? I can't remember specifically) from District 13. He's an older guy (older to Katniss' perspective). He's a soldier through and through; courageous, tough as nails and very proud. He also has a bit of a sense of humor and knows exactly what he's fighting for. Now this is some serious fantasy casting on my part, but hey, it's my blog, I can reach for the stars if I want, right? I see Ray Liotta.

Commander Paylor is a Games victor from a generation or so ago. She's strong; both physically and emotionally. She's on the proverbial front lines, helping the rebels in the efforts. One woman came to mind when she this character first pops up:

Linda Hamilton. And that ^ is exactly how I pictured her. I know she's not that young now, but this character is supposed to a bit older anyway, and I think sci-fi geeks around the world would line up to see her take on a post apocalyptic socialist regime.

Delly Cartwright is a girl from District 12 that is now.. involved in things. I'll leave it at that. She's described as basically being the eternal optimist. She puts a positive spin on everyone and everything. She treats every person as if they are her best friend. She's not an airhead, she's just very, very happy. I kind of like this girl, Gilland Jones.

And, now, because I didn't cast them in the first two books, Katniss' styling team. There were so many other characters going on that I haven't done them before, but they are still with us and thus deserve to be cast. Since they get covered in so much makeup and hair color and whatnot, they can look like anything. Most important of all, these people need to absolutely ooze excess and luxury. If I thought for two seconds that they could utter a single line with any ounce of talent, I would suggest Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton (how's that for excesses?!?) But I know better than that. So, instead, I suggest John Michael Higgins, Catherine O'Hara and Parker Posey. Because they are hilarious and I love them. And if you are a fan of these three, then you know how flawlessly they work together.

Agree? Disagree? Post your thoughts in the comments? Images: Google Images

Catching Fire

I've already done a Fantasy Cast for Hunger Games, but there are some new and important characters in Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins.
 
Finnick- Not as Young as Peeta and Katniss, but young-ish. Good looking and totally knows it. Cockiness and charisma and all kinds of semi-sleazy personality. How about some Chad Michael Murray?

Can you imagine him wielding a trident? Helping to bring down a corrupt government? I can.

Johanna- Another young-ish character that spends an awful lot of time taking her clothes off just to make her competitors nervous. She is described as being gorgeous, and you have to question her loyalties for a long, long time.  Leslie Bibb is somebody I could see wanting to hate and wanting to trust at the exact same time. 

Beetee- And older guy. Smart and completely tech savvy. The dark horse, the under-appreciated. George Takei

Mags- Yes. She's a little nuts. But, she's been a mentor to a child's killing game for the last 65 years. Just how nuts do I think she is? So nuts that I think she should be played by Ellen Albertini Dow. That's how nuts. 

President Snow- I had previously said Julian McMahon but I think maybe he's just a bit too... pretty? Maybe that's the word I'm looking for. In any case, I change my mind to Neal McDonough. A little less... I don't know, metro. Tougher. Slimier.

Head Gamekeeper- I picture somebody who, at first, comes off as rotund, jolly and self-absorbed. As time goes by, he becomes likable and eventually turns out to be kind of an intellectual tough guy. Nobody but Jon Favreau could pull this off.

Who else cannot wait for Mockingjay next month?

Agree? Disagree? Post your thoughts in the comments!
All images: Google images

The Hunger Games

The story, and terror, of the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins relies on the fact that these are children in this competition. Children killing and being killed. In my opinion, the only way to really convey this horror is to really cast kids. Sweet faced, smiling kids. My choices:


Katniss is the heroine of our story. She is young, just barely 16 years old. She is abrasive, independent, smart, resourceful and one heck of a shot with a bow and arrow. I think AnnaSophie Robb is the girl for this part.

She's done action, so I can believe her running around and camping out and being all resourceful-like. Plus, wouldn't that face be absolutely chilling with a bow and arrow pulled up close? **SHIVERS**
 

Peeta is the other tribute to the games from District 12, so we get to see a lot of him throughout the story. He's just a deep down, good-to-the-core type of guy.  William Moseley

Gale is Katniss' friend in District 12. He is a bit older than Katniss, also fiercely independent and takes care of his whole family. He is tough as nails, and I think he would be a bit intimidating. Someone like Steven Strait

 

Primrose needs to be young. Very young. Her youth and fragility highlight the cruelty of the games. She needs to be the embodiment of childhood. I think this girl, Hannah Robinson looks the part.
 

 For Rue, there needs to be a superficial resemblance to Prim, and she needs to be youthful and delicate as well. Her character helps us see the cruelty of these games; what kind of government forces a beautiful young girl like her into this situation? I like Evanna Lynch

I don't know, there is just something about her that makes me believe she would actually be flitting around from tree to tree, singing a songbird song and wearing wildflowers in the midst of a killing competition. 

  Foxface- Ashley Tisdale This is just funny. I think she really does look like a fox, and the moment the phrase "foxface" was used, her face immediately popped into my head. 

For the careers, I don't really picture anybody specific, they are mostly just smirking, hulking masses.  Although, they look a lot like Channing Tatum and Missy Peregym in my head (both are probably too old, and too famous for non-speaking parts, I know that)

But the adults really are the "fun" characters.



Haymitch- We need somebody loud. Obnoxious. Lovable. And later, we learn, that we need somebody completely capable of true intelligence and subterfuge. We need a guy like  Bill Murray

Cinna is superficially from the Capitol. He is much more normal than the other Capitol stylists, but he still maintains a little excess and a certain flair. How about: David Bromstad

I know he isn't an "actor" per se, but, honestly, isn't every person on TV an actor to some degree? My sister suggested this one to me, and I just couldn't agree more.


OK, for Effie Trinket we need somebody who can be equal parts intimidating, shallow, mothering and annoying. We need Jennifer Coolidge

And, lastly, Cesar. The talk show host type character from the Capitol. I like this guy: Fred Willard.

I've also done a list of some of the newer characters featured in Catching Fire .


What do you think?
Images: Google Images