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Lionsgate has announced that it set Lynn Cohen to play Mags in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Meanwhile, there has been an interesting behind the scenes battle for the plum role of Finnick.
Sam Claflin has been the favorite, but he had a problem with an option owed to another studio that presented date problems. Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter stars Ben Walker, Boyd Holbrook and Tyler Hoechlin were the other competitors for that role, but it looks now like things have cleared for Claflin and that he’ll play the role. You’ve seen him in Snow White And The Huntsman and Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Here’s the Mags news:
Santa Monica, CA, August 2, 2012- Lionsgate® and the filmmakers of THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE are pleased to announce that Lynn Cohen has been cast in the role of Mags in the much anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ worldwide smash hit novel Catching Fire. A former mentor to Finnick Odair, Mags is an eighty year old Hunger Games victor from District 4.
Known to New York theater audiences for decades of memorable roles, Cohen has also appeared in critically acclaimed films such as Steven Spielberg’s Munich and Charlie Kaufman’s Synecdoche, NY, as well as commercial fare such as Sex and The City and its sequel. She can next be seen in They Came Together, with Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler.
THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark. Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a “Victor’s Tour” of the districts. Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.
THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE will be directed by Francis Lawrence, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. The novel on which the film is based is the second in a trilogy that has sold more than 50 million books in print and digital in the U.S. alone.
Lionsgate will release THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE on November 22, 2013.
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Finnick Odair is suppose to be 6’2″ at least, built and gorgeous. Sam Clafin the Brit is none of those things. We accepted Peeta being a midget but now this with Finnick is a bridge too far. I understand from insiders that the casting director Debra Zane like to play favourites and cock blocks other actors. Not happy
Use a little imagination! Sam Claflin could be PERFCT for Finnick. Look how much he bulked up for Snow White, he can do that again, even more if he needs to!! and I think he is really capable of carrying the story of Finnick! I personally can’t wait. I think he’s HOT! : )
Plant, you smell of desperation.
@Hunger Games Fan: I’m sorry, but you are upset because he’s not as tall as you had hoped? 5 ’11 is considered tall for guys, and with any amount of movie magic or even platform shoes, this issue would be gone. If the anger stems from the fact that he doesn’t match your image of Finnick, fine, but you don’t have to imply he is unattractive.
But he is unattractive. Pasty bland and doughy. Gross.
I agree with you mostly, HGF. I really wish they could cast Armie Hammer as Finnick.
Armie is too old to play Finnick, in my humble opinion. But I agree that Sam isn’t a good fit, either.
The casting for Mags is great, but they’ve missed the mark with many others.
Ummm Armie is 25 and Finnick in the book is 24. There is no way he’s too old for the role.
Sam Claflin is as boring as white paint. This is the worst choice for Finnick. We, the fans, will not be happy if he’s chosen.
Totally agree.. Finnick needs to be H.O.T times a thousand..Sam, sorry to say, is not. Maybe the make-up crew can work their magic. I do like the casting for Peeta though, would be nice if he was taller..but his personality fits great.
Sam Claflin is so freaking forgettable in everything. Who keeps casting him? He is painfully bland and uncharasmatic on screen. He’s the new Orlando Bloom but at least Bloom had the Lord of the Rings movies in his corner which is more than can be said for this guy.
Funny you mentioned Orlando Bloom, cause I was just thinking if Bloom could look so handsome and mesmerizing in The Lord of The Rings (thanks to the make-up department), so can Claflin
But nobody likes Clafin. He is a bag of nothing in vague human shape. Only a few paid plants here mouth anything nice about this bag of nothingness. The real fans are burning in anger all over the internet. I’m starting to wonder if those rumors about the casting agent are true.
How many franchises does Sam Claflin have to tank before Hollywood realizes HE is the problem?
He brought zero chemistry or charisma to Pirates 4 (granted, story didn’t help), he displayed the same lack of chemistry and charisma in Huntsmen (except when Charlize’s eyes were CG-ed over his) and now they want to hand him a part that requires nothing but those two qualities?
This character is supposed to be captivatingly gorgeous and over-the-top charisma. How does that fit Sam Claflin in any way, when he he has proven he can’t deliver twice?
What is Lionsgate thinking here?
Lionsgate isn’t thinking and capitulated to the thug like demands of Ms Zane. Clafin is more Peeta than Finnick. Finnick is MAN in size and shape, Clafin is puny compared to Liam Hemsworth, just like Hutcherson. Not a good move Lionsgate
Who the hell is cast as Romulus Thread! totally agree with you about Armie, he would have been great!
I absolutely disagree that Ms. Zane plays favo(u)rites or cock blocks actors. I had never met her before and she auditioned me and 2 of my friends for the Finnick role. They held many auditions.
Even though Abraham Lincoln vampire hunter was silly (I still really liked it), Ben Walker was great in it. I hope to see him in more high profile roles. I guess it won’t be Finnick, though.
I really liked Sam in Snow White! Super pumped to see him in Hunger Games
I think Sam is a great choice for the role of Finnick, and I really enjoyed his performance in Snow White. Looking forward to seeing the movie!
I saw him in Any Human Heart, and he can really act. Having read the books, I think he is perfect for this role.
OMG. Of course it should be Claflin!!!!!
Why does everyone keep thinking the actors make these movies more successful?
Like the Twilight series, these movies are making money based on their publishing success, name brand recognition, and (heaven forbid) story content/concepts. People are buying tickets because they want to see THE HUNGER GAMES, not JLaw or Donald Sutherland.
They should go older for the Finnick part. Armie Hammer isn’t too old, but he’s no better than Claflin for this part. Call me crazy, but I think they should go with someone like Simon Baker. I’m not a hardcore fan, so perhaps I’m misremembering, but I don’t recall the book assigning Finnick a specific age, only stating references (i.e. he was mentored by Mags, who is quite old, and obviously won her own Hunger Games while she was a teen). He’s been a winner/mentor/prostitute in the Capital for a while now …but I don’t remember an actual age.
Then again, I think both Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence were miscast (both talented actors just not ideal for these roles). The entire casting for this series has been strange, except for Elizabeth Banks, who is solid.
His age is given. He won the 65th Hunger Games at the age of 14, which would make him 24 at the time of the 75th Hunger Games. Simon Baker would be far too old.
you are WRONG big time. if you read the books properly you will see that claflin is perfect for this role.
Seems like Ms Zane should be severely disciplined for wasting everybody’s time with her inane manipulations.
Only Armie Hammer. Sam looks like a nice person. But he is just boring and forgettable.
Claflin is NOT Finnick! He has Nothing Finnick! Garrett Hedlund is truly, completely and deeply Finnick. If Claflin is really chosen, then, they messed up the most expect part. Claflin is very far from being fan favorite, it’s Garrett Hedlund!
I’ve heard stories about Debra Zane and her ego. Has she cast Sam in anything before? Probably. As “nice” of a bloke Sam is he is extremely forgettable and could not be more wrong for Finnick. As someone who is very familiar with the books, Finnick carries sometimes 2 people at a time through out the movie. Are they planning on using a stunt double? This british wafe is not the great Finnick Odair, and “settling” on this under weight and height pasty Brit is lazy casting and a massive failure of a mistake.
alex pettyfer
Though Sam claflin isn’t our ideal Finnick neither was most of the hunger games cast, but lionsgate worked their magic. Sam claflin was really good in snow white in the huntsman, and he’s been in more than that and Pirates. The problem with Finnick, he’s everyone’s ideal man. His image in everyone’s mind is the most hamdsome man they’ve ever seen. I would’ve been upset to see armie hammer as Finnick cause all I see is the winklevoss twins when I see him. (No offense to armie hammer, he’s plenty handsome and talented just not my ideal finnick) I hope claflin does good in his role, I mean Finnick is my favorite character ever. EVER! So I really hope he does good. I mean we all have an ideal Finnick, mine was chace Crawford, but in the end it’s who lionsgate decides.
I usually do not put my two cents in regarding casting, but for the role of Finnick, I’d cast Sebestian Stan. I think he’d bring the goods. IMO, he is one complete package.
He played the role of Bucky, in Captain America.Tall, sexy and a very good actor. He has mezmerizing eyes.
The casting department would be, “fools” not to go with him.
AND, no. I’m not his agent.
I think Sam can deliver. he has shown good performances before but we’ve never had enough chance to see him as a leading man. give the guy a break and lets see what he can do. i think we will all be surprised for the better!
Are you this Debra Zane person, trying to cover your ass now that all the Hunger Games fans despise you and are furious over the fail casting of Finnick?
Sam Claflin would be amazing in this role!!! he’s the perfect fit for Finnick!!!