'Hunger Games' director talks casting; Our picks for Katniss

Attention Tributes: The first "Hunger Games" casting news is in... Kind of. Not really. Well, it's better than nothing, right? Director Gary Ross talked about the movie's already much-debated casting in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, in which he revealed that he hasn't met with any actresses for the coveted role of Katniss Everdeen, but says those conversations will begin shortly. Excuse our dignity for a moment while we say, "Squee!"

Ross was quick to rule out that there are any favorites for the role of the dark heroine. "I've read in the press that there are frontrunners but that's not the case." He also said that they aren't ruling out casting an unknown for the role, something a lot of the book fans are pushing for. "We'll cast the right person for the part. Lionsgate has been great in the respect that they don't feel that this needs a movie star in Katniss' role," he says. "The greatest thing about the franchise and the books being the star is that we can cast whoever we want. So we all feel like we're just going to cast the right person."

Fans of the dystopian trilogy will be happy to know that Ross has met with the series' author Suzanne Collins to discuss the project, specifically Katniss. "I've talked to Suzanne extensively and I feel like I understand the character really, really well. I feel like I know who that girl needs to be." They'll also be happy to know that the man taking their beloved novel to the big screen seems to fully understand the character. "What makes Katniss attractive is her strength and her assuredness and her defiance and ultimately her compassion. And I don't mean just physical strength," he says. "I mean a real strength as a human being. She knows her own truth. She feels deeply and fiercely. And this is something that the actress has to bring with her." Amen, Gary Ross. Amen.

Now that Ross has broken his silence regarding the casting of Katniss, the time has come for us to reveal our favorites for the role:


Malese Jow

Jow, 19, is as close to an unknown as you can get. Sure, she has a loyal following from her fantastic turn on "The Vampire Diaries" as teen vamp Anna, but she isn't a household name and certainly not a box-office draw. Jow is one of our favorites for the role: She has a quiet, unassuming strength and a compelling on-screen presence. She showed off her emotional range on "TVD," where she also matched wits and held her own against Ian Somerhalder in a totally believable way. Jow is a fiercely devote fan of the books and expressed her interest to take on the character in an interview with MTV, saying "I would definitely like a fair shot at this. I feel like I would be great for Katniss, so I would love to go out for it."


Lyndsy Fonseca

Fonseca, while still not a household name, does have a starring role on the action-drama "Nikita" going for her, which is where we first thought of her for the role of Katniss. Fonseca is pitch-perfect as a young woman with a score to settle and proves to have that rough edge needed to portray a natural survivor. Another thing going for her? She is actually being considered for the role. In an interview with Next Movie, Fonseca revealed that she had been sent the film's script. "I actually just got sent the script. I haven't read it yet," she said, "I know very little about it." Some could say Fonseca 23, could be too old for the role, but we still think she can realistically pull of 16-years-old.


Kaya Scodelario

The "Skins" actress, 18, seems to be one of the early favorites for the role with many fans deeming her their choice for the extremely talented archer and hunter. Like Fonseca, Scodelario has also reportedly received the script. She tweeted "So I have had a lot of people asking if I have been sent a certain script for a film based on a book. Yes I have. I like it." The tweets were later deleted. Physically, Scodelario is a near-perfect candidate for the role with her slender figure, olive skin and long, dark hair. The main question regarding Scodelario is if she can drop her British accent, which probably won't be an issue.

So ladies, we wish you luck. "And may the odds be ever in your favor!" Who do you think should play Katniss, Zappers? Do you have any favorite for the roles of Peeta and Gale?
source: blog.zap2it.com