I could not have been more of a Johnny Come Lately to Suzanne Collins’ “Hunger Games” trilogy. Everyone tweeting their faces off on August 24 about the release of “Mockingjay” might as well have been punching the keyboard with their fists since those 140 characters were totally lost on me. Then, as I prepared to go vacation last month, I happened to ask the salesgirl, “what is ‘Mockingjay?'”
Less than 30 days later I had devoured all three tomes with a deadly determination not typically seen outside President Snow’s arena. I absolutely adore the expansive world Suzanne created, the characters she populated it with and my fingers were worn to the nubs as the series’ various action sequences left me shaken.
Throughout reading one actress continually leapt to mind as Katniss spoke, scowled and slayed the competition: Jennifer Lawrence.
Jennifer is mostly unknown (which would work to the film’s advantage), however she might not be for long. In addition to snagging the role of Mystique in next year’s “X-Men: First Class,” her dazzling performance in 2010’s “Winter’s Bone” is undoubtedly an Oscar contender.
In “Winter’s Bone,” Jennifer played Ree — a self-sufficient young woman who hunts, provides for her family and doesn’t seem to own a hairbrush. Sound familiar “Hunger Games” fans?
The 20-year-old is also incredibly capable of pulling off Katniss’ Seam to Capitol transformation, as I learned upon meeting her in real life this June. I walked in, fully expecting to see a frumpy little girl, but was instead confronted with a glamorous woman that Cinna would have been proud to stand behind.
And I would be equally proud to stand behind Jennifer Lawrence as Hollywood’s chosen Mockingjay!
Who do you think should play Katniss?