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Spare News
Mockingjay casting news is just, spare. So, when even some paper I’ve personally never heard of prints a tiny article stating that such and such, or so and so, is in talks with Lionsgate about a role in Mockingjay– I sadly pay attention. Actually, I kind of have to, it’s that or I write a retrospective on why I wish Taylor Swift hadn’t been included on The Hunger Games soundtrack. And who the hell wants that?! I surely don’t. Here’s the deal, so far only two people have been rumored to have had supposed conversations with the Mockingjay films’ casting department, that I can remember, and they are Rebel Wilson– and the weirdest rumor yet, William Levy.
You read me right, and if you’re at all like me, you’re doing a little um, well “what the fuck!”-ing, right now. Yes, with arm movements, jerky ones, perhaps you’ve dislocated your shoulders in this process, maybe you’ve fallen off your chair, or your sofa, maybe you’ve gravely frightened some people on public transit who are sitting near to you? I
Stuff and other stuff, eyes.
dunno, I’m not you, I am me– and I think the idea of William Levy, Spanish language soap opera star, Dancing With the Stars contestant, and also the guy who hits on a giant brown M & M in a commercial, allegedly being in talks to take a role in Mockingjay is the weirdest thing I’ve heard since a friend of mine told me she likes Velveeta. Yes, because this just makes the most sense ever, the guy who people thought would make a good Finnick, even though he’s clearly very much so over 30, (he’s 33), is a shoe in for some role none of us ever thought of him for, because we’re brain dead, or dead already. Guys, am I dead?
Okay, melodramatics aside, this is all just a rumor, unsubstantiated by a paper I had never heard of until yesterday afternoon. So, I’m not going to get ahead of myself entirely, I’m going to say this: If there’s any truth to this rumor at all, he’s clearly a better actor than I thought he was. However, I can’t help but go further and flail over the fact that there are simply no logical roles for him to be up for, at least not when examining the roster of characters initially. I mean, there’s Boggs, who’s middle aged, there’s Doctor Aurelius, who yeah– that’s not working, and then there’s characters like Pollux, Castor, and Messalla. If I was Debra Zane, which clearly I am not, Levy would be up for a role of someone from the Capitol, ’cause he’s a very aesthetically pleasing man person, and factoring in that the man has a thick Cuban accent that he cannot put off, my money’s on Pollux. Why? Because he doesn’t speak… at all. But who’s gonna play Castor!?
Guys, I really don’t like that Taylor Swift was on The Hunger Games soundtrack.
Them There Eyes
Campaigning for Coin: Tilda Swinton
It’s that time again, the time in which we examine yet another actress potentially in the role of the multidimensional President Alma Coin. This week the lady in question is none other than a Victor’s Village favorite, Miss Tilda Swinton of London, England!
Them There Eyes aka Rebekah: When I read Mockingjay the first time it was in the throws of needing to know what happens next above anything else, sometimes that included water, so when I was picturing the characters, like Alma Coin—all I saw was a woman with sharp features, cutting eyes, silver bobbed hair, a slender build, and a presence that screamed intelligence, cunning, and fortitude. It wasn’t until the second time I read that book that I realized I was picturing Tilda Swinton, or a version of her, the whole time. So, now I can say it without any qualms, I think Tilda Swinton is ideal for the role of President Alma Coin. She’s a fine actress who’s made a name for herself as a character actress above the need for fame, in fact most of her work has been supporting roles, like her work in The Beach, The Deep End, Vanilla Sky, Adaptation, Young Adam (one of my favorites), Constantine, Broken Flowers, Michael Clayton, Burn After Reading, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the impacting independent film We Need to Talk About Kevin, and most recently the critically acclaimed Wes Anderson film, Moonrise Kingdom. She’s of course most famous for her work in the blockbuster Narnia series as the White Witch, so obviously she knows how to play a quietly menacing character, but she’s not the kind of actress that people will go see a film just to see her, she’s an ensemble actress, the kind who thrives off the work, and the people she’s collaborating with. And to me she’s pleasant surprise to see when she shows up in films, even if sometimes her characters are not the most warm and fuzzy types. That’s another thing about Tilda, she never picks boring parts, and she never adhere’s to one genre, she’s open, and she always, and I mean always delivers. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that she’s already worked with Francis Lawrence on Constantine, and her schedule, according to her IMDb page, is wide open. Debra Zane, casting director extraordinaire, please hear my shouts, call Tilda’s people ASAP!
Courtney/Tiffany from Welcome to District 12: Tilda Swinton is a top choice. Again, she often plays a position of power and her physical structure (specifically in her face) are straight edges. This goes very well with Coin’s description of her hair which is very precise. Those straight lines in her face says cold and calculating, making her a great choice for Coin. Let’s also not forget that she would go well with the other adult actors being an Oscar winner. We have no doubts about her acting ability, and her physical looks seals the deal. The only possible downer we could see in Tilda is that you’re not supposed to suspect what kind of person Coin REALLY is. What will newcomer’s opinion be of Tilda Swinton in this role? Will the audience assume she is not what she seems because Tilda Swinton is playing her? Much like the book, Coin’s “”alignment”" should be ambiguous to the audience.
Emily from Down With the Capitol: Tilda Swinton would be a brilliant casting choice for our President Coin. I am a huge Narnia fan and she wowed me with her performance as the White Witch in the franchise. It’s obvious to me that she would be able to pull off cold hearted and power hungry Coin. I have also seen her in Constantine (which Francis Lawrence directed) and thought she was great. She really has a knack for 
twisted, calculating characters—which Coin definitely is. In my mind, she looks the part. She’s the right age, has very unique, fierce looking features and definitely has those “eyes that could burn straight through you”. One of my biggest issues with this casting is that I want a seasoned actor, but not someone who would be too recognizable or would not be detachable from their previous roles. To me, Tilda Swinton fits the bill perfectly. My only concern is that she’s done the mega-hit book to movie franchise before and I don’t know if she’d want or need to do it again, but my fingers are crossed that Francis Lawrence is able to give her a call.
Adam from HG Fireside Chat: Tilda Swinton has always walked that tight rope between benevolent and menacing, whether it be in The Beach or — in what was a masterful performance — Michael Clayton. Coin embodies both of those characteristics, at first seeming to be the savior of Panem, but later, a ruthless commander with great ambition and chipped-away morals. Swinton possesses the acting chops, the look, and the complexity to deliver. She would be a mighty fine choice, capable of bringing a potent element to the Mockingjay films and, more specifically, to the ascetic stylizing of District 13.
Amie from HG Girl On Fire: If you’ve seen The Chronicles of Narnia then you know that Tilda Swinton has the rare and perfect ability to be insatiably evil while you can’t take your eyes off her every move. She was oddly comforting to Lucy Pevensie as she welcomed her into her cold arms, while have plans that would only benefit herself while being the end of Lucy and her brothers. She was the driving force of the Narnia film, bringing the white witch to life like never before on screen. This is an important quality the actress who plays Coin must have, while she is not considered evil, she has
Tilda as the White Witch
lost the ability to have human compassion like many other victims of the Capitol Dictatorship, which causes her to have little boundaries to how she chooses to he run her regime in District 13. Tilda had a calm yet unsettling demeanor, no matter how honest she is or how much she has your back, you know there is much more where it comes from and you are a afraid of what you must do to earn such loyalty from her. I can see her every move as Coin already, and that makes me nervous, because Coin is eerily predictable, a replica of a certain Capitol leader Katniss thinks is her real enemy, and soon realizes she has been mistaken. As far as Tilda Swinton’s look, her interestingly plain face and minor facial expressions remind me perfectly of Katniss’s description of her as “slush that you wish would melt away”. Tilda is beyond talented as an actress, and very simple like Coin. She can hide her true intentions behind her cold eyes with perfect grace, and Tilda Swinton would be my pick for our Coin for Mockingjay P1 and P2.
Carla from Mockingjay.net: I don’t think there’s any doubt as to why Tilda Swinton is part of this list; most people would recognize her from playing characters that are in positions of power and demand attention– from Archangel Gabriel to the White Witch– and out of her impressive repertoire, her antagonist roles particularly stand out to me. Even her real life traits, her appearance, facial features and tone of voice inspire one to think of a serious, highly intelligent and sofisticated mind. I have no doubt she can pull off a great President Coin if she’s cast. My only doubt is: would it be too much of a good thing? Coin would do anything for power, certainly; she was a
Tilda Swinton as Karen Crowder in Michael Clayton
woman without scruples and we’ve seen Swinton play roles like that memorably. But I don’t want her to seem TOO calculating, TOO manipulative. To me, Coin has to have a certain appeal to the people as well; she wasn’t a good person, but she was a competent president, as far as the people of Thirteen were concerned. So in my head, Coin has to straddle the line between shady antagonist and straight-out villain, much like Donald Sutherland does as President Snow. And I think Tilda Swinton might come across as too unapproachable for that. I wouldn’t mind if she’s chosen, personally, because I do think she’s amazingly talented, but I think there are actresses out there who would portray this duality in a much more natural manner.
Jacqui from My Hunger Games: Tilda Swinton is mesmerizing. She’s fascinating. She’s avante garde and I love her. I love her for her work on David Bowie’s video for The Stars (are out tonight) and I love her because she slept in a box at the MoMa as part of an art installation. Tilda is a gender bender and she plays luminious, ambiguous characters to perfection. In her career she has played the archangel Gabriel in the oddball comic book movie Constantine, the White Witch of Narnia, an Italian housewife, a woman who watches men age backward in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button while sipping tea with them, the mother of a teenage boy who commits a high school massacre and a Virginia Woolf character. She’s also the new face of Chanel, is about to star in the sci-fi thriller Snowpiercer, then follow up with a vampire romance called Only Lovers Left Alive. There’s nothinig this woman can’t do and she could certainly pull off a President Coin that looks like a legitimate face of the revolution, while harboring cruel intent. She would be perfect and a huge coup for the franchise.
Lee from The Hob: Tilda Swinton would make a very interesting President Coin. Her acting range is vast – playing an Archangel in Constantine, to the White Witch in the Chronicles of Narnia films, and contemporary fare such as her work in Michael Clayton – giving viewers confidence that any role she takes will be striking. Ms. Swinton becomes totally subsumed by the role she is portraying; cold, remote, and powerful. She always leverages the actors’ tools of physical and vocal attributes. Her President Coin would be frightening and riveting to watch.
Campaigning for Coin
We’re starting a new series, and it’s called Campaigning for Coin! Over the next several weeks fan-site reps from all The Hunger Games fan-sites will weigh in on different actresses in the role of President Alma Coin of District 13. Starting off the series we have the silver haired Miss Glenn Close, a fan-favorite to some. Read on and see what everyone thinks of the idea of Glenn Close as Alma Coin.
Them There Eyes aka Rebekah: I’ll be blunt, Glenn Close is far from my favorite choice for Alma Coin, but is she the worst choice out there? Far from it. Glenn brings everything to the table that would be required of an actress in a role like Alma Coin, but to me it would be flat out type casting. See, Glenn is known for playing tough ladies (Damages), scary ladies (Cruella de Vil), and oh yeah– creepy and/or weird/crazy ladies (The World According to Garp, Fatal Attraction, Stepford Wives). I’d even say she’s made a career of it. Personally I think taking on a role like Alma Coin wouldn’t be challenging for her at all, and if I was Glenn– I’d want to play a character that’s not something I’ve technically done before. Aside from that, logistics get in the way as well, as she’s just signed on for another franchise just this week, Guardians of the Galaxy. So, I’d go so far as to say that adding The Hunger Games franchise on top of that would be incredibly taxing on a lady who’s over 15 years older than Alma Coin is supposed to be, and if you’re a regular reader of my work on Victor’s Village, you would know I’m not a proponent of casting an older actress in this role. Glenn Close? I’ll say it loud, and clear, I don’t think it’s going to happen. Next!
Arianna from Down With the Capitol: Honestly I’m all in for Glenn Close as Coin. I never thought of her until her name was brought up for this project. She could most definitely play the part as Coin aka an evil woman in power, especially after playing parts in movies 
such as Cruella De Vil in 101 Dalmatians and her role as VP in Air Force One. She also has the perfect Coin look which is a bonus. Glenn would only add amazingness to the already stellar cast we have.
Amanda from HG Girl On Fire: This is actually a hard call for me. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind what so ever that Glenn Close could pull this role off. I think she could, and she would extremely well. I think she has proven her acting chops time and again especially with this type of role. One of the things I think is very important for the role of President Coin is that the actress not be too likeable, and be able to pull off being the “bad guy.” I want to be happy when we get to the end, and (spoiler alert) Katniss murders Coin, which in this scenario I don’t think would be a problem, especially when I picture that scene in Fatal Attractions where she’s boiling the pet rabbit. My one and only problem is that Glenn Close does not fit the mental picture I have of Coin. I pictured her as being younger with darker hair, but with that being said I think with hair and makeup that would be and easy fix, and I’d rather see someone who could play the role very well, and not concentrate on looks so much.
Savanna from The HG Fireside Chat: I adore Glenn Close and think she’s immensely talented, though I haven’t seen much of her recent work. I loved her as Queen Gertrude in the 1990 film adaption of Hamlet, and her performance as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard is just…magnificent. To say the least. But for some reason, I’m not too into the idea of Close as Coin. Maybe it’s because she’s too big of a name and too recognizable. Honestly, I’d rather see a lesser-known actress have a chance to take on the character and have it become a career-defining role. That being said, Glenn Close can do absolutely anything, and if she were to be cast as Coin, there’s no doubt in my mind that she would be phenomenal. She does the cold, hard, calculating thing very well and would certainly be a believable leader. The best thing she has going for her, in my opinion, is her powerful, almost magnetic presence; whether she’s onscreen or onstage, it’s impossible to not be drawn to her.
Crystal from Mockingjay.net: I’m not the biggest fan of Glenn Close. I know, I know, she’s got a stack of Oscar nominations, but that doesn’t mean I think she’s consistently a great actress. I’ve already seen her play an executive office role in Air Force One and for those of you that haven’t seen it, she was pretty awful while I thought Harrison Ford, Halle Berry, and Gary Oldman carried off their silly cliche action roles off rather well. I need someone who makes me feel like withering into the floor and an actress who has been in Mars Attacks! is just hard for me to take seriously. She’s got the hard look, but for some reason I’m just not confident she’d pull it off with the right amount of cold Coin swagger.
Kristen from MyHungerGames.com: Obviously, Glenn Close has had quite a bit of commercial success in family movies, including her hysterical take on Cruella De Vil in Disney’s live-action version of 101 Dalmatians—but let’s not forget the role that really made her a star: Alex Forrest in the 1987 thriller Fatal Attraction. If you haven’t seen this movie (and if you’re old enough to watch R-rated films) stop reading right now and go watch it. I guarantee you will never see a creepier interpretation of the sociopathic “woman scorned” character on film. In the interest of keeping spoilers to a minimum, let’s just say that Glenn Close plays a manipulative nut-job so well, she’ll make your skin crawl. That being said, I would absolutely LOVE to see Glenn Close as the ruthless, power-hungry Alma Coin. I think she has amazing range, and is beyond capable of convincingly portraying the cunning, unscrupulous leader of District 13.
Angie from TheHob.org: When I think of actresses that could portray our infamous
Air Force One
President Coin, Glenn Close does seem to fit the generic Coin mold. Glenn is a little older than President Coin, but I still think she could pull off the character. She possesses the “look” that President Coin should have: shoulder length gray hair, eyes that could bore into any soul, and a serious stature. What sets Glenn apart from the rest in my opinion is her previous role as Cruella de Vil in the 101 & 102 Dalmations movies. Glenn shows that she can play the role of a ruthless, selfish villain that truly only has one main objective. The characters are alike considering in both films they are willing to do or kill whatever or whomever they need to get their way – whether its puppies or medics or children.
Courtney/Tiffany from Welcome to District 12 : Glenn Close for Alma Coin is something we never knew we wanted until it was first suggested. She quite often plays a woman in power, like the Vice President in Air Force One, and can play a great villain, like Cruella De Vil in the live action 101 Dalmations movies. Some may argue that Glenn Close is too old, but we think that’s silly since the casting in The Hunger Games has not limited actors for their age. For example, Lenny Kravitz and Donald Sutherland are WAY older than the characters they play, yet they are fabulous additions to the franchise. We’re more concerned with the actor themselves than the age, provided that they are not on the extremes of the age scale. More than anything, it would be nice to round out The Hunger Games cast with yet another critically acclaimed actor. While never having won an Oscar, she has been nominated several times and has won everything else under the sun. We think Glenn Close has the look as well as the range to play good, evil, and a woman in power: All necessary traits to play Alma Coin.
Betcha can’t wait to see who’s up next!
As Yet To Be Cast
That time again folks, yes, the time in which there’s nothing to report on having to do with our dear, beloved, wonderful, fantastic (how many more adjectives can I slip in here?), stupendous, shiny, franchise. And that means one thing for little ol’ me– fan-casting. I think I’ve said it before, but I’m never going to stop fan-casting this franchise, and truth be told, I’ll probably continue to fan-cast the series until they do a remake in about 15 to 20 years. In that case, I’ll say it now, Jake Gyllenhaal would be a fantastic Haymitch or Boggs in about 15 to 20 years, ’cause I don’t see that man losing his acting chops, or his ability to look good in a uniform for about 50 more years. Therefore, that inevitable zombie apocalypse better not happen. You hear me super germs? Gyllenhaal has to play one of those two roles in the remakes, throw in Maggie for good measure as well, she’d make an awesome President Coin! In reality though, or at least the portions of my mind that come up with all of this magic, there are only a few actors who are eligible to portray the remaining cast in this current go at The Hunger Games.
Role call of who is left to be cast! Captain (he doesn’t have a first name, because Suzanne Collins likes to leave that up to actors 80% of the time, apparently), Boggs, President Alma Coin, Annie Cresta, Fulvia Cardew, Doctor Aurelius, Tigris, Cressida, Leeg 1, and Leeg 2, Lyme, Pollux, and Castor. I know with all my intellectual capacity that when these roles are cast officially, that they’ll likely surpass our expectations, but until then we speculate, or I speculate–over, and over again. When I started this practice though, things we’re a bit different, i.e. the cast figurehead is now an Academy Award winner, and then there’s the whole Phillip Seymour Hoffman thing. All that tied up neat with a little bow is a pretty package, but who’s going to fill the gun hand of Captain Boggs, who’s going to fill the severe bob of President Coin, whose plump cheeks tattooed with silver vines will sit, and smirk in a judgmental manner at Katniss Everdeen all whilst in character as Fulvia Cardew? I have no clue, but man do I like to imagine some amazing people in those roles.
I’ve been thinking about putting this actors name into the hat for years, but I’ve kind of 
liked keeping it to myself, sort of as a little mental treat. His name is Michael Cudlitz, and he’s one of the stars of one of the best dramas on TV (at least in my opinion), Southland. I’ve watched his work for years, and I don’t just mean on Southland, I mean going back all the way to Band Of Brothers, or the first time I saw him– Six Feet Under. Don’t mind me though, I have a mind that picks up on people who were in one episode of a long time favorite series, see them 15 years later on something I watch regularly now, and end up flailing on the couch going “I know them, I know them!” However with Michael Cudlitz I was more than pleased to see him pop up on series’ like Nip/Tuck, Prison Break, and might I add that his performance on Prison Break was something I still think about today, and it happened over 5 years ago! He’s also had guest spots on Lost, Bones, and now finally he’s one of the stars of Southland. Southland has afforded him ample material for him to metaphorically sink his teeth into. About Cudlitz’s character, he’s a veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, a beat-cop who is content to remain a beat-cop until he retires. His character is layered, like one of those insane bean dips I’ve only ever heard about, or if you prefer– deep dish pizza. Maybe I should tell you his name while I’m at it, Officer John Cooper, I don’t even know where to start with this guy: For one, he’s a recovering addict (pain killers), he’s a training officer, or was– so he’s had to be an authority figure to those outside the squad car, and the poor sod sitting next to him in the squad car, he can be a massive dick, or basically the epitome of a-typical masculinity, and then turn a corner and be the most gentle soul since Babe all whilst consoling, or engaging an injured woman stuck under a tour bus, or a mentally impaired lady confused about where her husband has gone off to, oh, and he’s a closeted gay man. Everything Michael Cudlitz has had to do as
Cooper, is like Jennifer Lawrence’s extended audition tape, aka Winter’s Bone. John Cooper isn’t Boggs though, much like how Ree Dolly isn’t Katniss Everdeen, but aspects of their character arcs, and personalities can be seen in Jennifer’s portrayal of Katniss, or for Cudlitz, be seen in his potential portrayal of Boggs. Physically Cudlitz is what Suzanne Collins described, tall, impeccable posture, blue eyes, middle-aged. People who have read the series have later tacked on that they imagined Boggs to be muscular as well, which I tend to agree with, luckily Cudlitz foots the bill in that manner. However, then there’s the matter of availability, which is frankly getting ahead of ourselves– fortunately I know that Southland just wrapped its 5th season, so he’s wide open until the next, or until he takes a role in something else during the hiatus.
There we go! Michael Cudlitz, number 8, or something, of over 100 people on my list for Boggs. It’s going be a long few months, prepare yourselves.
Rebel-lious
It’s an odd day in Hunger Games franchise news-dome, and all because there’s no Liam Hemsworth tidbits to relate! There’s other ridiculousness however, which either tickles you greatly, or makes you scratch your head and say, “what?” Today something resembling news broke, and it is that the comedienne Rebel Wilson allegedly has had a meeting with Lionsgate about her taking a role in Mockingjay. There are all kinds of questions behind this so-called development in the much awaited, and anticipated casting of Mockingjay, and the first question that crossed my proverbial lips was “are you serious?” Let me be crystal clear on one thing, I like Rebel Wilson, I’ve seen Pitch Perfect, Bridesmaids, and Bachelorette, and I think she’s an apt comedienne, a talented singer, and savvy lady person– but do I think she fits in the array of actors that already make up the existing cast of The Hunger Games franchise? Not so much.
Rebel, all dolled up and ready for a fight– to prove herself?
Friends of mine, and fellow fans as well, have speculated that if there’s any legitimacy to Rebel’s statements, she’s only “right” for a very small number of roles. Aside from the Capitol citizen with the sausage, and going by her statement that the role is a Capitol citizen, she could be up for the role of Cressida: The rebel Capitol citizen who’s the director of all those notorious propos made to be broadcast to the districts, and later hacked onto the air in the Capitol. She’s described as a young woman with a shaved head, and green vine tattoos. So, for all intents and purposes her physical description is as vague as basically every other secondary character invented by Suzanne Collins. Next we have Fulvia Cardew, aka Plutarch Heavensbee’s uptight assistant. Fulvia’s physical description is vague, (I know– such a surprise), plump cheeks, and silver tattoos gracing said plump cheeks. Rebel’s no Skinny Minnie, we know this, and I don’t begrudge her her size– she’s what I like to call normal, and it’s a welcome sight to those of us who haven’t worn single digit sized jeans in almost a decade. Fulvia is the only character I can realistically see her being up for, but I’m still extremely wary of the thought as I would initially see her casting as a gimmick. All that being said some of the best actors out there make their bread and butter with comedic roles and projects, whilst interspersing or finally being offered dramatic opportunities, and more often than not they do fantastic jobs. Think Robin Williams, Jamie Foxx, Billy Crystal, Albert Brooks, Steve Martin, Jack Lemmon, Danny DeVito, Whoopie Goldberg, Jim Carrey, Mo’nique, Bill Murray, and Patton Oswalt. So, while I’m all twisty and worried, I know that if Rebel is anything like her more seasoned counterparts, she’s probably more than capable of doing a sobbingly moving job in serious work, because comedians are the worlds best observers, and interpreters of human behavior, and the human condition.
You literally have just witnessed my coming to terms with, and being okay with Rebel Wilson being possibly cast in Mockingjay. But only if she’s Fulvia.
Them There Eyes
Casting Your Worst
I’m changing things up a bit today! Normally I’m all about fantasy casting people I want to be in the roles of my favorite yet to be cast characters, but not today! Today it’s all about the ideas that make shivers run down our spines in revulsion, that make us cry for all the wrong reasons, and could also quite possibly make us throw heavy objects across rooms in sheer frustration, and anger. These are yours and my Nightmare Boggs! I wish I could get that title to be all squiggly, like it’s melting, oh well.
Let’s start with the lesser of several evils. I’m actually a fan of this guy, and I do think he’s a good actor when he’s not allowing himself to be type-cast, which is exactly what casting him as Boggs would be, because he’s made a name for himself by playing stoic, tough guys with guns. He is Mark Wahlberg. I like Mark, I wouldn’t die a thousand deaths if he was cast as Boggs, but it would frankly be boring if he was. Meh to Mark Wahlberg being cast as Boggs! Let’s hope it doesn’t happen, shall we?
Wow, let’s roll on down with some more type-casting! Bruce Willis. I’m sorry, I have friends that love the idea of Bruce Willis playing Boggs, and the only way I’d like the idea is if The Hunger Games had been published in the mid ’90s, and he was coming off of Pulp Fiction’s praises. Now though, now Willis is 57, decidedly bald, still very good-looking I’ll give him that, but he’s played Boggs type roles for almost 30 years. Let someone else try it on for size, and let him go off and do more work with Wes Anderson.
I hate this idea. There, now that that’s out, here it is– Stephen Lang. I’m not sorry for detesting this idea, even though it’s been suggested in comments on this site, and praised in comments on this site– I seriously think this is one of the least imaginative Boggs casting ideas I’ve come across. It’s type-casting at its finest again, because every other role this actor has had is a militaristic role. Honest, go look at his dossier, it’s one gun-toting, combat fatigue wearing man person after the other– he also seems to growl most of his lines, and I can’t appreciate that, I just can’t. So, no thank you very much to Stephen Lang as Boggs times a million gazillion. Oh, also he’s 60 years old, people!
Just saying it, Will Smith! There are worse ideas, but Will Smith is a pretty bad not good one. Moving on.
How about Keanu Reeves? To me he’s actually a lesser of the evil bad horrible ideas, because I’ve seen him do some good work, and I’ve been a fan of his since the early ’90s. Casting Keanu 
wouldn’t even be type-casting, it would just be weird casting. So, oddly enough, even though several people have told me that they hate the idea of Keanu playing Boggs, I’m putting the idea on a special shelf called the “I’m Listening, Because I Like How Out Of Left Field This Idea Is” erm… shelf?
This one’s just stupid, because I’ve never seen him act well in anything, and I wish he’d make better choices, but I don’t want one of his better choices to be The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 and 2. It’s Gerard Butler. Look, I respect the man as an individual, it takes a lot of gumption to leave a successful law practice to chase the dream of becoming an actor, and by his own right he is an actor– but he’s not a very good one as evidenced by the trail of mediocre films and performances he’s laid at our feet. I do not see him having the ability to pull off Boggs’ humor, heart, emotional fortitude, or his warmth. Gerard Butler, love that he’s from Glasgow, would scream “bloody hell, no fookin’ way!” if he were cast.
Two words– Vin Diesel. Two more words, Arnold Schwarzenegger. And now for the man of the hour, the name that came to my mind when I came up with this concept, and also the most common name that was said when I asked others who their nightmare Boggs is– it’s Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Come on, 
you have to agree that Johnson is pretty much the pinnacle of the bad Boggs ideas? Sure everyone he’s ever worked with sings his praises for being a sweet, chummy, trust worthy, funny, individual– but have we not seen the man play the same role since he left the WWE? True, they’ve all got different names, but it’s the same delivery, the same cadence, the same expression, it’s like watching a season of a television show, only the cars change, the location changes, but the characters don’t, which doesn’t work, because he’s playing different characters! Worst Boggs casting idea ever, and I’m pretty damn sure it’ll never happen anyway. On trend I’ll also add that any one who has ever been on the WWE is not allowed within 2 feet of this franchise, they are banished. And yep, you should pronounce that the Shakespearean way– Banish-ed.
I apologize if you wake up in a cold sweat tonight, nightmares do that to you, and these have been floating around my head for years.
Them There Eyes
The Captain and the President
I said it last week, and it still holds true– I could write a fantasy-casting article everyday for a month, and I’d still have ideas. Well, here I am again, and until the drudgery of pretty no worthwhile Catching Fire and/or Mockingjay news ceases, you’re stuck with me living in a fanciful haze. Yeah, yeah, Judianna talking up about her inspiration behind Katniss’ Interview dress is groovy and everything, but personally– I don’t want to know, because I’m a snob who thinks she got the dress deadly wrong. So, not going there. And the Oscar race, and the multitude of Jen sound-bites, it’s just too 
much for me to all take in right now. Fan-casting is a safe haven for me, and when this duo came to my mind in a fit of sleep deprived genius, my heart leapt with joy– or maybe I was just dehydrated? They’re siblings, and they’ve worked together several times, and their dynamic is something to revel, and basically bathe in, because it’s so weirdly good. They are Joan and John Cusack. Just ruminate on this for a sec, and then come back to the facts: John’s 46, fit, well over 6 feet tall, a trained kick boxer (yes, those moves he displayed in Say Anything were real, as were the ones in Grosse Pointe Blank), an extremely versatile actor, reputable, and has played stoic, military, and fatherly roles before. Joan is 50, not quite as successful as her younger brother, but I’ll never hold that against her, she’s a hard worker, talented, extremely funny, and everything I’ve ever seen her in she’s more than good. John, of course in this fantasy casting is Captain Boggs, and Joan is the steely President Alma Coin, if you haven’t figured that out from the title, and everything.
Maybe I just really like the idea of them pairing up again, because it’s been 13 years since their last project together (High Fidelity in 2000). Also, maybe I just really like the idea of 
Joan taking someone on who’s on a whole different level of scary than she’s taken on before. Because, even though I know she’s working on the Showtime series Shameless right now, I’d like to see her in something that I’d willingly watch. Fact: I didn’t like the UK version of Shameless, I’m not even up for trying out the US’s. Not even James McAvoy kept me interested in the series– and he was naked, and screwing his now wife on the kitchen floor. The characters no matter what accent they’re using are entirely unappealing to me. But, about Joan though, she may not be the icy beauty some of us had in mind, but she’s a solid choice if they ever make one. As for John, just– do I really have to make a case for John? He’s been doing this acting thing for about 30 years, and he’s probably not going to stop until some Libertarian takes him out with a truck, or– y’know, old age? There ya’ go, two people checked off my list for possible Boggs’, and possible Coins, and yes– they’re really long lists.
I won’t be done until these roles are truly cast. And even then I will continue to fan-cast these roles for the remakes that will be done in about 15 years.
Them There Eyes
The Moms Are All Right
Not too long ago, or maybe a long time ago if you’re a dog– in 2010 our beloved Josh Hutcherson was in an award winning film with a cast of actors who have with stood the test of time, aka the ’90s. The film was The Kids Are All Right, and it starred Julianne Moore, Annette Bening, Mark Ruffalo, and Mia Waskikowska. Josh played the sensitive younger brother/ son character, Laser– and truth be told it was the first role I’d ever seen him in, because up until 2010 or so, Josh had primarily done films of shall we say, a family nature? The Kids Are All Right is a family drama though, and a very modern one at that, because the nuclear family that Josh is a member of has non-traditional leaders, i.e. he had two moms. The film was ground breaking probably for just this reason, and also because the depiction of this family was so seamless, so very normal, that I believe many people who previously believed that same-sex couples could not raise healthy, well-adjusted kids, were changed by this film… hopefully. The Kids Are All Right is to me at least, one of the best films Josh Hutcherson has ever been a part of, and that is a testament to the writing, the directing, and most definitely to the ensemble cast. Which brings me to this not so far-fetched idea, and or ideas. The two lady’s who lead this cast, Julianne Moore, and Annette Bening should be, and I hope will be, considered for the role of Alma Coin.
I’m really into reaching for the stars on this casting decision, guys– so you’re simply going to have to put up with me plucking up, and naming actresses who are working steadily today, and continue to be recently recognized for their work during the cyclical awards season. But there it is, I’ve said it! Two well-respected, highly awarded/nominated, and extremely talented actresses who are also the right age for the role at 52 (Moore), and 54 (Bening), and could easily fit the physical description with either a wig, or hair-dye– are two of my many, many hopeful picks for the cool, calculating leader of District 13.
I’m probably never going to pick someone out of thin air, who’s best known for something they did in the early ’90s, and hasn’t done anything of real note since then, so just– don’t push me, Coin isn’t a come-back role, she’s a role that deserves someone who’s recognizable for her talent now, not 20 years ago. Bening is probably best known for her role in 1999′s Academy Award winning film American Beauty. She’s been nominated four times by the Academy for her 
individual work as well, in fact she was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her work in The Kids Are All Right. Bening is one of my top picks for the role of Alama Coin not only because she’s highly respected, but because I’ve literally never seen her play a similar role twice. Bening is versatile, she can be vulnerable, forthright, bitchy, evil, sweet, hesitant, damaged, deranged, conniving, vicious, sensitive, smart, and powerful. She’s everything that I could hope for in Alma Coin in both her obvious talent, her reputation, her past experience, and yes– also her look. I personally think that Bening is a very attractive woman, and like with Tilda Swinton, I believe that having an attractive person playing the role of the deceptive Coin is the right way to go. I do not however believe that casting an older actress is a good idea, because of one reason only– District 13 does not have a high life expectancy rate. Coin is supposed to be in her early 50s, and it’s my belief that someone in their 50s in that world, is considered lucky to still be alive and healthy. Emphasis on healthy as well, I also think that Coin should be portrayed by an actress who is also known for having a healthy physique. So, if you’re envisioning a 50- 60 something year-old woman who has not taken care of them selves, we are not on the same page.
Julianne Moore isn’t a different story. True, she’s only been nominated at the Oscars three times, unlike her former co-star with four, but in this case I don’t think the numbers 
matter all that much, especially considering if either she or Bening were cast, it would only tip the scales of the many Academy Award nominations the entire Mockingjay cast has received by a very small margin. And, don’t make me do the math, math makes me angry. Julianne Moore, the only difference between her and Bening besides the two years in age, and their over all looks and coloring, is that she’s worked with Danny Strong. i.e. she’s worked with, and mastered Danny Strong’s work, the writer of Mockingjay’s screenplay, and was awarded for it… twice. If you have a problem with Julianne though, take it up with Boogie Nights!
Peace out!
Them There Eyes
Third Time Around
Tomorrow our dear Jennifer Lawrence will be hosting the American comedy staple, Saturday Night Live– and I predict that three to six specific people will be there to cheer her on, or to even participate. Those people are as follows: Her mom, her dad, possibly her two brothers, her co-star and friend Josh Hutcherson, as well as her friend and co-star Bradley Cooper. Jen’s hosting for several reasons, but I can only guess at what some of them are, but one is most definitely to drum up more attention for Silver Linings Playbook, which if you’ve been asleep for the entire season– just won a butt load of awards. She’s probably also there to promote The Hunger Games franchise as well, but Silver Linings is forefront in everyone’s minds, so please if they don’t mention Hunger Games, (which why wouldn’t they?), don’t pitch a fit, ‘kay? Did I mention Bradley Cooper yet? Oh yeah, I did! Okay, so here’s the deal guys, I know he’s not technically the right age, and doesn’t wholly fit the description, but right here, right now– or more like a couple of months ago, but I kept it to myself and a few close friends– I’m putting Cooper at the top of my list for possible Boggs’.
Note: Jeremy Renner will always be my tippy-top choice, ’cause he’s awesome, and no one can convince me otherwise, they just can’t, so don’t even try– just don’t. There are differences between Cooper and Renner though, and it’s not just the height and age differences (Cooper’s 6’1, Renner’s 5’9. Cooper’s 38 years-old, Renner’s 42– and to be honest both of them look younger than their chronological ages), it’s the acknowledgement 
of interest. Or at least what’s come off as interest, ’cause frankly it came off a little wishy-washy. Here’s the facts: Jeremy Renner has only ever appeared in a sketch on SNL that joked about his character Hawkeye from The Avangers being like Katniss Everdeen, and Bradley Cooper has actually said that he’d like to have a part in The Hunger Games franchise. Big difference there, right? There’s more though, Cooper as we know has already worked with Jennifer Lawrence twice, and it doesn’t sound like either of them would be apposed to working together again. The problem, or basically non-problem is the pretty much also non-problem that Cooper, as I said before, does not fit the description of the character. I’m willing to over look this fact for the fact that many of the already cast actors didn’t fit the so-called descriptions of their characters to a T, then again a lot of the character descriptions from the books were hell-a vague, so we can’t really pass judgement on the casting department when they had so little to go on to begin with.
So here goes, A. we know he and Jen have a good working relationship, friendship, and good chemistry on screen. B. he’s a tried and true good actor, who’s versatile, smart, and willing to try new things all the time, as well as take risks. C. I don’t have a C. D. I honestly would not mind staring at Bradley Cooper off and on for 2 and a half hours, and I hear he’s a sweet guy in real life, so I doubt anyone in the cast or crew would be all “Bradley Cooper is a shit, I hate him, meehhhhhhhh!!” E. Who the hell ever does an E? Me! He does have the blue eyes that Collins wrote Boggs to have, so– score!
What can I say, I like living in a fantasy world where Debra Zane is my bestie, and she listens to my ideas?
Them There Eyes
The Jennifer Lawrence Standard
Back in the day, a young adult movie was a young adult movie. It wasn’t a blockbuster. Nobody was expecting to shatter any records. The standards that the films were held to was questionable, as were the actors.
Nomination!
There were still naysayers against actors hired to work on popular series, like when Robert Pattinson was cast as Edward Cullen and half the Twilight fandom had a coronary, but the studios didn’t really seem to think on it much. They weren’t expecting the massive fanbase that would rise up. In short, they really didn’t have anything to prove.
So was the way of Hollywood until March of 2011, when Jennifer Lawrence was cast as Katniss Everdeen. She had an Academy Award nomination! She had indie cred! She had outstanding interview skills! We weren’t just dealing with another teen actor picked to carry a franchise based on popularity with the teen crowd. The Hunger Games sought out a professional.
And it looks like other Hollywood franchises that started up after The Hunger Games are taking notes! You know how we like to set trendz! It may be the death of the “Breakout Star”, but movie studios are casting young adults with clout.
Nomination!
For instance, take Ender’s Game, which comes out in November 2013. Ender himself will be played by Asa Butterfield, who became very well known after his breakout role in Martin Scorsese’s Hugo. It only won 5 Academy awards, NBD. Abigail Breslin, who was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Little Miss Sunshine, will be Valentine Wiggin.
Just days ago, Summit Entertainment announced that Shailene Woodley will be Tris Prior in their adaptation of Divergent. Shailene may have a bad rep for starring on one of the most poorly written shows on television (The Secret Life of the American Teenager), but we’ve got a feeling that the studio was paying more attention to her Golden Globe nom for The Descendants.
Nominations everywhere!
Since Jennifer, it seems like Hollywood is taking their young adult franchises a little more seriously. They won’t cast just anyone. You need to love the books, handle the media spectacularly, and oh yeah… act the hell out of any role handed to you. People have expectations for young adult adaptations set unrealistically high– you’ll never please them all, but studios seem to be working hard to please the majority. Having grown up in the generation subjected to really bad “teen movies” filled with gorgeous actresses playing paper thin characters (and doing so very poorly), we can assure you this wasn’t anyways the case. And we’re giving Jen some credit for the shift!
Now Can We Nix That Rumor About Alexander Ludwig as Four in Divergent? PLZKTHX.
The Girl With The Pearl
