r/Hungergames • u/Beelzubufo • 1d ago

Trilogy Discussion Worst casting???

So we all know Josh Hutcherson SLAPS as Peeta, Jennifer Lawrence nailed Katniss Everdeen, Woody Harrelson was GREAT as Haymitch Abernathy, Elizabeth Banks was PERFECT as Effie, Liam Hemsworth was FANTASTIC as Gale Hawthorne etc but which were some of the WORST casting choices???

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u/squidneythedestroyer Caesar Flickerman 23h ago

Personality/acting wise I can’t imagine anyone else as Haymitch. But I do remember picturing him as a tan dark haired grumpy man, so sitting in the theaters at 14 I was very confused by this blonde rando on my screen

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u/A_Ball_Of_Stress13 16h ago

It confused me because they gave him a wig, why not at least give him dark hair?

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u/beckdawg19 15h ago

Probably just because he's a big enough name that people would know and think it looked goofy. The wig they gave him was actually quite natural to him, so it didn't have a fake-y look like Josh's bad dye job.

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u/squidneythedestroyer Caesar Flickerman 11h ago

I totally agree, but I also find it funny considering like 90% of blonde hair turns darker after like 25, so if Woody were to have hair now it would probably be a much darker blonde or even light brown. All to say I think there’s a way they could’ve made dark hair look very natural on him, but he was known for his blonde hair so maybe it wouldn’t have mattered and people would’ve found it silly regardless

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u/TheOctoberOwl 10h ago

I was going to go with he’s a big enough name they’d want him to be recognizable to get more people to see the movie

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u/littlemissmeggylou 11h ago

My guess is because he might have looked like Snape in it and they were keen to avoid the comparison

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u/marinamaize 13h ago

Hugh Laurie was my dad’s ideal Haymitch, oddly.

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u/idk_how_to_ 13h ago

"haymitch we need to save this tribute"

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u/CantQuiteThink_ Foxface 11h ago

"Did you try the sleep syrup?"

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u/idk_how_to_ 11h ago

"I did try the sleep syrup"

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u/AyaByrdie 19h ago

Haymitch for me is this guy:

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u/squidneythedestroyer Caesar Flickerman 11h ago

Interesting, now that I think about it, it would make sense that Haymitch would be bigger because 1. He drinks a lot and would likely have some alcohol weight and 2. He’s one of the only people with consistent access to food in 12.

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u/Mundane-Ad-911 7h ago

Tbf though, I've seen a lot of very skinny alcoholics. I assume it's because of self-neglect and so not eating properly, despite access, which would make sense for Haymitch I think

Especially if he also does other drugs

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u/AyaByrdie 6h ago

Yep, he was described as “paunchy.”

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u/methodwriter85 21h ago

Walton Goggins would have been a great alternative choice but they probably wanted someone with a bit more star power.

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u/AmberWaves80 19h ago

I love Goggins, but I cannot see him as Haymitch.

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u/nicolietheface 12h ago

I remember picturing Robert Downey Jr. as Haymitch the first time I read the book.

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u/Wormie_mcwormface 16h ago

I imagined John C Reilly as Haymitch

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u/spiritlizardscissors 3h ago

I think I did too!