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EXCLUSIVE: Looks like we might have a Hunger Games winner. Zoe Aggeliki has the edge over Jena Malone for a role in Lionsgate‘s The Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire. Aggeliki and Malone (Sucker Punch) are up for the part of Johanna Mason, an ax-welding, deceptive and ruthless winner of a previous Hunger Games in the sequel film. However, sources say model-actress Aggeliki is the one in the most serious talks after both auditioned for director Francis Lawrence
. Aggeliki has roles in the upcoming R.I.P.D. and another sequel, Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters. Lawrence took over as director on Catching Fire after original Hunger Games director Gary Ross choose in April not to helm the blockbuster’s sequel. The Mason character plays a pivotal role in the first and second Hunger Games sequels and would be a meaty role and career boost for any performer. With Jennifer Lawrence reprising her role as Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is scheduled for release November 22, 2013.
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Hopefully Jena Malone gets this role instead.
I see. They’re going with looks over talent. This business has lost all respect when it comes to hiring young actresses.
The increased international distribution of American movies over the past decade has put much more of an emphasis on looks over talent. Since a larger portion of the audience will only see subtitles or hear voiceover, studios care far less about competent acting.
Wouldn’t this put more emphasis on acting talent to be able to convey meaning through expression?
Especially in the Hunger Games movies. So much of what Katniss felt is expressed without words by Jen. That should tranlate across language boundaries.
It’s a matter of opinion, but vocal and speech training is the core of acting. Proper elocution, accent, and timing of speech is much more difficult to perfect than facial expression.
While I’m not the least bit familiar with Zoe Aggeliki’s work, she definitely resembles the Johanna Mason I pictured, much more so than Jenna Malone. Though I just looked up her body of work and so far she doesn’t have anything released but she’s also just turned 18, while Jena Malone is about ten years older. So the age casting for this franchise continues to be all over the map with no real target age or look.
Johanna is a very important role. Here’s hoping that she gave a real show stopping audition to be considered over show biz vet like Jena Malone and as a total newbie with all her work still to be released.
This news is quite troubling. Jena Malone seems to perfectly embody the spirit of Johanna Mason, and what a District 7 tribune she would be! She was the best part of Sucker Punch, and I was really hoping see Jena at the Capital. My hunger games won’t be so happy without her.
Another white girl, big surprise. I suppose a girl who happens to be half Greek is about as ethnic as they are going to get. I understand that having a actress/actor of color play a part in something like an adaption of a Jane Austen novel may be implausible. However, The Hunger Games is definitely a film where they could have easily cast actors/actresses of color in numerous roles. Yes, there were the characters of Thresh and Rue but even then those characters were scaled down somewhat from the roles they played in the novels.
What’s your quota for each race in a movie? Do you want just blacks, or hispanics, asians, and middle easterns as well? Just saw the trailer for the new Spike Lee film…how many white people should be in that movie?
Again? Racial card? Do they need to hire actors of color out of charity? Isn’t this enough that in every movie and TV show has to be actor of color? It’s ridiculous that they have to hire any afro-American actor in every TV show or movie. And they do it not because actor is talented but because they need to fulfill that charity spot. Now you demand charity role in Hunger Games?
Gosh, your entire post is quite idiotic
Ugh….not happy with this news at all. Jena Malone looks like the Johanna Mason I had pictured in my head. And I’d prefer someone with some acting chops. Granted I haven’t seen anything Zoe has done, so if she gets the part, I hope she can show some depth.
I don’t care how great her audition might have been, she’s just too young to play ‘big sister’ to Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss.
Blame the writer I would say. These films are based on a book, in the book Johanna Mason is cleary a ‘white’ character. You can’t just chance that because some people feel discriminated that there is no ‘black’ character with a substancial part in the book.
Johanna’s race is not touched on in the books. She could be Hispanic, African American, Caucasian, anything.
interesting… I like her look, I think it fits what I had in mind for Johanna. She’s fierce looking but also soft and innocent, which is an important trait since that’s what lead Johanna to victory in her first hunger game. However she looks very young, and if this is how young they’re going for Johanna I can only imagine how young Finnick will look considering he’s at most three years her senior. Also she hasn’t done any substantial acting before and I’m surprised a showbiz newbie like herself is being considered for such a huge role. I guess she gave one hell of an audition. She better bring it if she gets the part.
I suppose the next Megan Fox. Although the silicone lips to me keep her from being sexy. I suppose it would be in the age of the fans. More I would say the frat boys in liking her. Maybe get her to do something with Taylor Swift to get some more.
Has Debra Zane read this book? Does she know anything??? J. Mason is NOT 18 and cannot, I repeat CANNOT look younger than Katniss. This is lubricious. Why do people hire this woman? She’s on a massive power trip who only cast people she cast before, she’s a star fucker.
Shameful turn of events… anytime you see “model/actress” getting a role over someone with actual talent, it’s a shame.
I think the big problem here is age. She looks notably younger than both the leads and is supposed to be 6-10 years older than them. Malone really seems to be the better fit for the character, in my mind. But my mind has no say.
Ugh, Kristen Bell or bust.
She’s not playing the part. She hasn’t auditioned. Go read the comments on her IMDb page, this girl is NOT Johanna Mason. Trust me.
WRONG! No slight on her talents but if you’ve read the books she is just too young and looks too soft for this character.
I prefer good acting than a cute face. Need real actors not nobodys cute faces. Forma southamerica w/love.
ok, this is all i have to say. hunger games rocks and there sould be nothing changed about it. people already like who the cast members are(besided cato cause he’s evil!) so why change then!
dido!
She’s too young! Or at least looks too young, she passes for like 15. I would have rather them pick a 30 yr old than a youngin personally, Jen Lawrence looks older than her… I kinda wish they would pick someone just average looking too and not some beautiful model… but oh well I guess whatcha gonna do right
Terrible.
naya rivera could be a great johanna mason.just saying.
Their not just looking for looks, their looking for the overall person who would best portray Johanna, and looks are important…..their might be a tall blonde with long wavy hair, and she is a better actress, but she doesn’t look the part. And u haven’t seen the girls audition for her, so how would u know who’s a better actor for the part. Js