Catnip

"In a not-too-distant future, North America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss' young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives." This is the storyline of Suzanne Collins' popular novel The Hunger Games.

As devoted fans know, movie contracts have been signed and casting has been slowly released. Here are the parts known thus far:

First off are the three main characters, Katniss Everdeen, Gale Hawthorne, and Peeta Mellark. Their roles will be played by Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, and Josh Hutcherson respectively.

The Tributes-
District 1: Marvel: Jack Quaid & Glimmer: Leven Rambin
District 2: Cato: Alexander Ludwig & Clove: Isabelle Fuhrman
District 3: Ian Nelson & Kalia Prescott
District 4: Ethan Jamieson & Tara Macken
District 5: Chris Mark & Foxface: Jacqueline Emerson
District 6: Ashton Moio & Kara Petersen
District 7: Sam Ly & Leigha Hancock
-Sam has been in a couple of martial arts films and Leigha is a gymnast who does the stunts on 'Make It or Break It'.
District 8: Samuel Tan & Mackenzie Lintz
-Mackenzie's family website says that she got far in the 'True Grit' casting process, which means she may be a talent to watch. Her sister, Madi, is on the AMC series, 'The Walking Dead.'
District 9: Imanol Yepez-Frias & Annie Thurman
District 10: Jeremy Martines & Dakota Hood
-Jeremy is a stunt guy and also part of the LXD, which is the crazy good dance group that came to national attention because of their star dancer, Harry Shum Jr. from 'Glee.' Jeremy's credits include 'The Expendables,' 'The Green Hornet,' the upcoming 'Sherlock Holmes' film and an episode of 'Community.' Dakota Hood is relatively unknown, like most of the Tributes, but she was part of the American Idol Experience.
District 11: Thresh: Dayo Okeniyi & Rue: Amandla Stenberg
District 12: Katniss Everdeen: Jennifer Lawrence & Peeta Mellark: Josh Hutcherson

Haymitch Abernathy: Woody Harrelson
Effie Trinkett: Elizabeth Banks
Seneca Crane: Wes Bentley
Prim Everdeen: Willow Shields
Mrs. Everdeen: Paula Malcomson
Caesar Flickerman: Stanley Tucci
Portia: Latarsha Rose
Octavia: Brooke Bundy

Cinna, Madge, President Snow and a few other characters have not yet been cast. Any ideas or preferences as to who plays what? What are your opinions on the cast so far? I think it's pretty good and I'll definitely be watching the movie when it comes out, but Josh Hutcherson doesn't exactly fit my idea of Peeta so we'll just have to wait and see how he does. Anyone else planning on attending the premier? I just can't wait to see if the movie matches my visualizations of the book.

Here's the first image release of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss. Does she look like you imagine Katniss? I was skeptic about how well she would do at first since she was just so blond and smiley, but this picture really calms my doubts and I think she'll do Katniss justice. Hopefully my doubts about Josh were unfounded as well and the movie will really shock me by how it brings the novel to life. Guess I'll just have to wait and see like everyone else.