Pajiba

No, not "Twilight", that's teen monster-romance, which is its own thing.

Without makeup she still looks really young and they can always dye her hair. I approve. She's actually supposed to be beautiful (but unaware that she is) so I would have chosen her over Chloe and Hailee as well... not that they aren't both adorable.

*--too.

Must. Have. Coffee.

Considering I read The Hunger Games series after watching Winter's Bone, and I couldn't help but see Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss the whole time, I would say I'm really happy about this casting. I just hope they don't blow it and go with Alex Petyfer as Peeta. Katniss has to be played by someone that can carry a movie on her performance alone. If you don't believe in the actress, then it won't work. I'm still worried they are going to soften the series for movies and screw it up horribly but this is a giant step in the right direction. Lawrence was phenomenal in Winter's Bone, if she brings that caliber of acting to this it will go a long way toward patching over the holes that may result from dumbing down the narrative.

Of all the pictures of Lawrence on the web, this is what you went with? Boo!

She's a truly talented young actress traversing the tripping road of stardom in Hollywood that loves to look at and tear down young beauties, and you're playing into that. She's going to be playing a teen who is often covered in dirt and layers, and you post a pic of her wet in a bathing suit? That's a shitty move.

I'm thrilled they went with Lawrence because few of the mentioned candidates looked as the book described, so I'd rather they pick an actress with some craft to her credit than a kid. Yes, some of the younger actresses have done great work so far - but this is a movie that would rest almost entirely on their shoulders, and that's a different beast. (Note Steinfeld was called a supporting actress even though she was the film's protagonist.)

I think this is a great call, we'll just have to see who takes on Peeta and Gale.

Let's just hope the script is good. At this point I'm pretty confident that anyone talented enough can be believable as a character they don't much "look like" (cough cough, Daniel Craig as Bond), but I'm less confident that a talented cast and crew can overcome a terrible script (cough cough, um... most book adaptations, the end).

One slight note of wariness I have about Lawrence is that she's a total sexpot. In the book, Collins is very careful (at least, IMO) not to make Katniss a sexual object, even though the character is thrust (heh) into some very sexualized, romantic situations, just by way of the plot. Katniss manages to remain a tough, damaged, smart girl trying to stay alive, without her sexuality really overshadowing that, or being used to titillate the audience. But when you toss someone as lush and obviously sensual as Lawrence into the mix, it's almost beyond the audience's control to sexualize the character.

That wasn't well said. I guess my fear is that with someone as sexy as Lawrence in the lead, the whole thing could become one big bodice-ripper. I mean, all those nights of Katniss and Peeta clinging to each other in the same sleeping bag in the arena... Katniss stripping Peeta to wash out the wound in his leg... these are scenes that with older-looking actors become pretty fraught with sexual tension, rather than just being kids trying to survive a game.

Only reason I object? I wanted Lawrence as Joanna. Desperately. She's a fabulous actress, and I'm not horrified at her playing Katniss, but I think she was a better fit for Joanna. Now time to see if the boys are cast well...

Sidenote: My pick for Haymitch? Hugh Laurie. If that happens, I will be overjoyed.

TylerDFC, I have seen Winter's Bone, but the difference is that in Winter's Bone she's not playing a girl pretending to be in love with a hot stud and stuck in all sorts of romantic situations with him. It's the plot + Lawrence that worries me, not Lawrence alone.

It's not the talent that's the problem, it's the fact that Katniss isn't supposed to be particularly Caucasian looking.

I guess.....spray tan and hair dye? Hmph.

If they dye her hair, I could see this working out. But someone mentioned Alex Pettyfer as a possibility for Peeta? Oh god, please don't let that happen. I heard Josh Hutcherson was also being considered. I wonder if he'd make a good blond.

White washed and too old. Thanks Hollywood, this is going to be another The Last Airbender.

I don't know anything about this story, but are Chloe Moretz and Hailee Steinfeld not considered good actresses? I was under the impression they were fairly well-respected.

For Haymitch I always pictured that drunk guy at the cafe in Amelie. I know it makes no sense.

Jennifer Lawrence, coloring and age issues aside, seems too bodacious to play Katniss. This is a girl who is used to starvation. I have a hard time picturing Katniss with kurves.

Also, if Alex Pettfyer is cast as Peeta I will fucking revolt. He's too angular and pretty! And Peeta isn't an arrogant douchenozzle!

I haven't seen Winter's Bone, so despite me taking it on faith that Lawrence is truly talented, looks-wise this casting is all wrong for me. I was hoping more for someone like Zoe Saldana, 10 years younger. Does such a girl exist? I mean, Lawrence might have the commitment to lose weight for the role (or she might not have to by direction, who knows) but to me the "hair dye and spray tan" thing just flies in the face of Collin's concerted efforts to describe Katniss as, well, not not-Caucasian per se but DEFINITELY not Anglo. I know JL is a big name now, but I just have a hard time believing that there isn't a single girl out there who is more age and ethnically appropriate, and who is also a good actress.

As a side note, obviously the Peeta and Gale casting are crucial, but I'm admittedly most excited to see who they get to play alleged Adonis Finnick Odair.

Damn. I saw Kaya Scodelario in that role.
Jennifer Lawrence is too mainstream-pretty. They'll need to starve her a lot to coax some cheekbones into her cute face.

Dream casting for Rue: Snookie.

I have bad, bad dreams.

I agree with denesteak. she certainly has the acting chops. also, gary ross directed pleasantville so this might actually turn out well!

I think that Paul Giamatti would kill it as Haymitch. He'd be terrifying, hilarious and sad all at once.

Jennifer Lawrence is a good choice. Physical appearances doesn't matter much, what matters is how well the actress can perform, so she's perfect in every detail.

Who is Kaya Scodelario? (Minus the fact that she was in UK Skins. I can use the Google.) I'd never heard of her beyond people saying that she would be the perfect Katniss. Is she really that good?

So, I read this post and due to the enthusiasm over the series in some of these comments I decided to read the first Hunger Games book. I loved it.
Now, having read this thread and having the thought of Lawrence as Katniss already implanted I think she is pretty perfect. Inadvertently, however, I also began to picture Pettyfer as Peeta because of all of the speculation here, so now I kind of want him to play him just because I have gotten to used to picturing his face. Damn.
Rue should be Chloe Moretz! And although I am no Giamatti fan, I think he works as Haymitch.
I really hope this film doesn't blow.