Catching Fire Movie
Finnick Odair
Sam Claflin to play Finnick?
There have been so many rumours over the last few months about who is to play fan favourite Finnick Odair in Catching Fire, but we may finally be close to an announcement.
It has been alleged by various publications that British actor Sam Claflin has been offered the coveted role.
Zap2it was one of the first to break the news of the rumour, saying:
Official reps for the film won’t comment on the casting, but our reliable sources reveal that producer Nina Jacobson and Lionsgate have signed off on Claflin’s offer. Now he just has to accept the role!
Variety added that it had been informed by sources that Claflin was at least on the shortlist for Finnick.
In a statement to HuffPost Entertainment, Lionsgate said that it would not comment on the rumours.
Claflin’s career has been going from strength to strength in the last few years. He made his breakthrough appearance in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides as Philip Swift, who as you may recall fell in love with a mermaid, and recently appeared as William in Snow White and the Huntsman.
I personally believe Sam Claflin would make a great Finnick. No, not just because he’s one of the few famous people to come out of my hometown, but also because he has shown himself to be a talented actor. Claflin is also pretty easy on the eye too. I have only witnessed him in wholly ‘gentlemanly’ roles, so it would be interesting to see how he fares as the seductive Finnick. Who is of course rather gentlemanly too when you get to know him better.
But what do you think? How does Claflin measure up for you?
[Zap2it] [HuffPost Entertainment] [Variety]
Trevor Donovan will not play Finnick in Catching Fire
Catching Fire hopeful Trevor Donovan has revealed on Facebook he did not score the role of Finnick Odair.
That leaves rumored hopefuls Hunter Parrish, Armie Hammer, and Garret Hedlud.
Hunter Parrish Pursuing the Part of Finnick
In this interview with MTV News, actor Hunter Parrish, who previously auditioned for the role of Peeta, discusses his desire to embody District 4 heartthrob Finnick Odair and whether he has anyone he’d recommend for the job besides himself.
Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog
I’m not very familiar with Hunter Parrish’s work, so I can’t attest to his acting skills, but he could certainly pull of Finnick’s look and he’s familiar with the books so he knows Finnick’s personality and background. I guess I’ll defer to you Mockingjays as to whether he can do the part justice. What do you think?
[Source: MTV News]
Elizabeth Banks, Josh Hutcherson, and Alexander Ludwig Discuss Finnick Casting
For weeks the HG fandom has been mulling over the possibilities of who will portray fishing heartthrob Finnick Odair. There have been a lot of interesting suggestions so far. Still, many of us remain stumped as to which actor would be the best choice. Josh Hutcherson was also at a complete loss when MTV News spoke with him after the MTV Movie Awards last week.
“I mean, honestly, I have no idea,” he admitted. “I definitely need to re-read the second book. I haven’t read it since I first read them, before the first one. So I think I kind of need to read it again to get a better grasp.”
Josh believed one of the most crucial aspects the lucky chosen actor should have is physical strength. “I think that’s a big important thing. I think somebody who’s kind of similar to Peeta in the sense that he knows sort of how to work the situation a little bit. I think the physicality would be really important for Finnick because he’s such an imposing character, for sure.”
Alexander Ludwig, on the other hand, knew exactly which actor could do justice to the District 4 Tribute.
“Whenever I read the books, I always thought Ryan Reynolds would be a great Finnick.” he said. “Ryan Reynolds is just how I pictured.”
Reynolds has been ruled out by many fans due to his age and A-list status, but Alexander believes he possesses many of the necessary characteristics. “I think he’s just got a charisma about him. Whenever I read the books, I was like ‘If I don’t get a [role] in the first one, [then I'd be interested].’ Finnick had always been something I was interested in as a character because he reminds me a little of myself.”
“He’s got a really good charisma about him,” he went on. “He’s also got that bit of an egotistical edge to him which isn’t like me but I love it as character. It’s hilarious and he’s a really strong character too and he’s a really big part of the second book. He’s the most anticipated character in my mind as well. I can’t wait to see who they cast for him.”
Best On-Screen Transformation winner Elizabeth Banks was no more decisive than Josh. “I don’t [know], honestly,” she said. “Everybody that’s ever been mentioned seems fantastic. I’m sure they’ll find the right fit. I think the cast has come together in such an amazing way so far and I know that their goal is to keep adding the best people and the people that its gonna be great.”
Banks described her perfect Finn as having “just a lot of charisma. And he’s a looker.”
Check out the videos after the break!
Producer Nina Jacobson says casting for Finnick is still wide open
Catching Fire producer Nina Jacobson spoke to 24 Frames of the LA Times at the MTV Movie Awards and says the casting for Finnick Odair is still wide open.
Amid a frenzy of rumors surrounding his possible role in the next installment of “The Hunger Games,” Taylor Kitsch last week told us he won’t be playing the attractive Finnick Odair in “Catching Fire.”
Finnick, who shows up for the first time in “Catching Fire,” is described by author Suzanne Collins as a handsome 24-year-old womanizer who excels at athletic pursuits. According to E! News, other actors still up for the part include Garrett Hedlund and Armie Hammer. But a producer of the sequel says even those whispers are “so not true.”
“That’s the thing that’s crazy — people are like way ahead of where we are,” Nina Jacobson told us on the red carpet at the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday. “We’ve not narrowed things down by any means. It’s funny to see how things can take on a life of their own.”
But are the filmmakers taking fan input into account while seeking out their Finnick? Not entirely, says Jacobson.
“It means something that people can see [an actor] in that light, so you know [the actor] will be accepted by a lot of people, on the one hand,” she said. “On the other hand, you have to kind of ignore it. You have to just sort of act like you’re sitting in a room and you want to just pick the person who gives the best audition and looks and feels most like the part.”
I have no preference as to whom will play Finnick. I just want whomever it is to do the best job they can and bring Finnick to life on screen. Everyone was up in arms with Jennifer and Josh when they were first cast, and after their performance in The Hunger Games.. I think it shushed those few up quickly. So, I trust Nina, director Frances Lawrence and author Suzanne Collins will give us the perfect Finnick. Like Nina said, “the person who gives the best audition and looks and feels most like the part” The person can look like Finnick, but to play him is a different story.
But I would really like to know who is playing Finnick really soon. 
[source: 24Frames via HollywoodCrush. Finnick illustration Margarita Zhirkova]
Casting For Finnick is Ongoing, Kitsch is Out
Earlier this week, E! Online reported that Taylor Kitsch, Garrett Hedlund and Armie Hammer were Lionsgate’s top choices to play Finnick Odair. However, a different source told Zap2it that casting for the role was launched this past Tuesday and there are many eligible young men besides Kitsch, Hedlund, and Hammer in the running. Reportedly, no one has surged ahead just yet and many actors are still reading for the role. Those of you who are tired of seeing all of these familiar faces should be happy to hear that the studio is also considering signing an unknown to play Finnick.
Additionally, Zap2it’s source claims that the scenes actors are reading for are the famous sugar cube routine as well as the one where Finnick hears Annie’s scream, most likely when the Jabberjays were mimicking Finnick and Katniss’ loved ones in the Arena.
Though the pool of actors from which Lionsgate may pull is larger than we originally thought, there is one Finnick fan favorite they won’t be able to catch. The Envelope of the Los Angeles Times reports that Taylor Kitsch is not planning to audition for the role.
“Not going to happen,” the “Battleship” actor said in an email. Alrighty then.
To tell the truth, I was pretty suspicious that Lionsgate could have narrowed down the list of potential Finnicks to three so quickly. Glad to hear they’re still reviewing their options and choosing crucial scenes from the books to weed out the less serious actors.
[Source: Zapi2it via DWTC and The Envelope]
[Fan Art Image Credit: Akanei-Rin]
Robert Pattinson NOT in the running for Finnick
Don’t fret Hunger Games fans, I can reveal that the random rumour about Robert Pattinson possibly playing Finnick Odair is definitely not true.
Whilst at Cannes to promote his new movie Cosmopolis Pattinson told USA Today:
I woke up this morning and saw all these things about me being cast in The Hunger Games. I was kind of curious for a second so I called my agent.
Pattinson added that his agent said, “No one’s going to offer you that part.” Laughing, the actor then told of his reply which was, “Thanks for the reassurance.”
I guess that this will come as good news for the majority of you who posted on the previous post with your dislike of the rumour!
Keep your Finnick suggestions coming in, I’m enjoying reading them all!
‘Hunger Games’ Fans Contemplate Jesse Williams Playing Finnick Odair
One of the most anticipated casting announcements for “Catching Fire” is the character who made the notoriously unappealing subject of fish seem incredibly hot: Finnick Odair. Several names have been floating around within the “Hunger Games” fandom concerning who should win the role, including Taylor Kitsch, Ian Somerhalder, Armie Hammer, and Benjamin Stone. But one relatively new and surprising suggestion is Jesse Williams, of “Grey’s Anatomy” and the recent horror film “A Cabin in the Woods.” Apparently, he has become a fan favorite for embodying our flirtatious trident-wielder.
In the books, the District 4 Tribute is described athletic and muscular, with bronze hair, golden skin and “incredible” eyes. Katniss once remarked that Finnick never had to go out of his way to impress sponsors due to his natural good looks. Besides the bronze hair bit, it would seem Jesse fits the bill!
When asked about this sudden swell of support, Jesse said, “I have heard that! I’ve seen a lot of that on Twitter. I didn’t know what the heck a Finnick was when I was getting a lot of the questions about it.”
Ah huh. Apparently Hollywood IS as isolated as everyone says. Luckily, Jesse made up for his ignorance of the book-to-movie blockbuster.
“I’ve since been educated, and that’s fun. People are really, really excited about it,” Williams stated. “There’s a website that’s dedicated to it—Jesse for Finnick. It’s kind of taking on a mind of its own. People are creative about that kind of stuff, and now I’ll try to figure out if that’s something that’s interesting to me.”
He went on to say that the “Hunger Games” movie franchise is “certainly a big, successful project, and I read the first book, which was great. In this day and age, I think it matters what the fans think and they envision certain things.”
I find this casting idea intriguing. Jesse’s definitely got the pretty-boy element going on, and I think he could pull off a character who appears shallow, but is really so much more than a handsome face and a ripped body (if you watch “Grey’s Anatomy,” you know why.)
For those concerned about who will bring Finnick to life, what do YOU think about this casting possibility? Can Jesse pull of the whole sugar cube deal without it looking stupid? And, more importantly (to me anyway), can he do the darker, emotionally-devastated Finnick in Mockingjay?
I’ll tell you one thing…he’s definitely got those Finnicky sea-green eyes.
[Source: E! Online]
[Fan Art Image Credit: Pattie Dineros]
