Woody Harrelson Cast as Haymitch

While there has been increasing speculation over who will be cast in the plum role of Haymitch Abernathy  in The Hunger Games, it appears that the role has been given to Woody Harrelson.

For those of you unfamiliar with The Hunger Games, Haymitch was the only living Hunger Games victor from District 12 at the beginning of the Hunger Games trilogy. As a result of the terrors that he endured in the Hunger Games, Haymitch has become an alcoholic and generally unreliable. He’s described as being “paunchy” and middle-aged. District 12 is the home of the main characters, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. Because of this, Haymitch becomes their mentor.

This is huge casting news, although other notable names such as Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Josh Hutcherson, and Wes Bentley have already been cast. It’s hard to view The Hunger Games as “the next Twilight” with names like that attached to the first movie!

Do you agree or disagree with this casting?

Since the announcement earlier this week that Peeta will be played by Josh Hutcherson and Gale will be played by Liam Hemsworth, many different sites have weighed in with their reactions. Here are a few of our favorite reads (after the official press release):

THE HUNGER GAMES SNARES ITS PEETA AND GALE

Pivotal Roles In The Lionsgate® Film Based On Suzanne Collins’ Runaway Bestselling Novel Go To Talented Young Actors Josh Hutcherson And Liam Hemsworth

LOS ANGELES, CA, April 4, 2011- Lionsgate® and the filmmakers of THE HUNGER GAMES are pleased to announce that actor Josh Hutcherson (THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT) has been cast in the role of Peeta Mellark, with Liam Hemsworth (THE LAST SONG) joining the film in the role of Gale Hawthorne in the much anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ worldwide smash hit novel. Both actors will star opposite Jennifer Lawrence, who it was recently announced will play heroine Katniss Everdeen.

About The Characters

Peeta accompanies heroine Katniss Everdeen into the 74th annual Hunger Games as the male tribute chosen from their native District 12, the most remote and marginalized district of all the subjugated districts of Panem. At the outset of the Games, Peeta publicly confesses his longtime feelings for Katniss, setting up one of the most fascinating fictional rapports of all time with his supposed arena rival.

Though Katniss and Gale have never had a romantic relationship, they share a transcendent bond, often of few words. When Katniss volunteers to participate in the 74th Annual Hunger Games in her younger sister’s stead, they both presume that bond will carry her far through the horrors she will face in the arena, and they each silently hope they’ll be reunited in safety on the other side of the ordeal.

About The Film

THE HUNGER GAMES will be directed by Gary Ross, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. Collins’ best-selling novel, which has over 3 million copies in print in the United States alone, is the first in a trilogy of science fiction/action novels which have developed a global following.

“The Hunger Games” chronicles a dystopic Capitol which requires its twelve subjugated districts to pay tribute in the form of a teenage boy and girl, forced to participate in the annual “Hunger Games,” a fight-to-the-death live televised event. Katniss Everdeen’s little sister is chosen in the lottery to participate and Katniss volunteers to take her place. Although persevering through hardship is commonplace for Katniss, she must start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love in order to win the games and return home. The Hunger Games novel has been on the New York Times best seller list for over 100 consecutive weeks. Foreign rights for the book, published by Scholastic have been sold in 41 countries.

Lionsgate will release “The Hunger Games” on March 23, 2012.

‘Hunger Games’ Hotties: Experts Weigh In On Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth (from MTV.com)

The Hunger Games Cast – Everything You Need To Know (from TheHotHits.com)

Hunger Games Casting News: Lionsgate Confirms That The Roles Of Peeta & Gale Have Been Officially Cast! (from HungerGamesMovie.org)

Definitely some mixed opinions at this point. What do you think?

Entertainment news is going crazy with the official word that Jennifer Lawrence has been cast as Katniss in the first Hunger Games movie. Here are a few of the best articles that we have found today:

‘Hunger Games': Now that Katniss is cast, who should play Peeta and Gale?

Jennifer Lawrence Confirmed for The Hunger Games!

Jennifer Lawrence Lands ‘Hunger Games’ Role

Jennifer Lawrence is Katniss in ‘The Hunger Games’

If you are looking for more information about Jennifer Lawrence in general, check out her page at IMDB.com.

Gabriel Liotta as Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games?

The Internet Movie Database (IMDb.com) is now officially listing Gabriel Liotta as Peeta Mellark in the upcoming Hunger Games Movie. He is the first actor to be listed in the much-speculated-about cast.

Liotta’s biography gives his date of birth as March 17, 1992, and his work includes mainly television including Big Love, Law & Order, Big Time Rush, The Mentalist, The O.C., and Lipstick Jungle.

We’ll post more once we can get a more official confirmation. What do you think of the casting choice?

Read the full IMDb.com Hunger Games listing.