We have our Katniss. And we have our Peeta and Gale. So it's high time we begin eyeing the supporting characters who will try to get District 12's tributes out of the arena in one piece. So today, we're taking a seat at the Hollywood Crush Cast Couch to share our picks for "The Hunger Games"' Haymitch Abernathy and Effie Trinket!
A quick refresher on who each character is:
A past victor of The Hunger Games himself, Haymitch serves as Katniss and Peeta's mentor and ally, helping them train and prepare before the Games and serving as their representative while in the arena. Sarcastic and far from sober, Haymitch can be a highly functioning drunk when he truly wants to be.
A dystopian Miss Manners, Effie is the chaperon for District 12, escorting the tributes to The Capitol each year for the Games (and having the fortunate—or unfortunate—task of drawing names during the annual Reaping). She's huffy, high-strung and is purported to wear a flamboyantly bright pink wig.
So without further ado, here are Hollywood Crush staffers' picks for Haymitch and Effie:
Haymitch: I hate to jump on the bandwagon, but my seat is fully reserved. Robert Downey Jr. really does seem like a good pick. If not just for his acting chops but for his past personal problems. I think he could definitely bring Haymitch to the big screen in the way Suzanne Collins describes him.
Effie: As for Effie, I keep hearing Kristin Chenoweth's name thrown out there. She definitely has the over-the-top bubbly personality that Effie has. She would nail that in a heartbeat. But is she too bubbly? Maybe. To me, Effie is more of an antagonist in the book. I didn't really like her character, and I just can't imagine disliking Kristin in any way. But it's acting, people! So I'm not totally sold on the idea, but at the same time, no one else comes to mind. (Sidenote: Kristin is from my hometown of Broken Arrow, Okla.! So based on that fact alone, she is awesome and should be in more movies!) —Breia Brissey
Haymitch: Sure, "Harry Potter" actor Brendan Gleeson is a little older than some of the other potential Haymitch candidates being discussed, but he was exactly who I pictured when I was reading "The Hunger Games." Plus, his turn as Mad-Eye Moody in the Potter films proves he can pull off the badass curmudgeon balance needed to play Haymitch.
Effie: Kristin Chenoweth's big voice and trademark perky demeanor would make her perfect for the role. She could totally capture the over-the-top aspects of Effie's personality without compromising her in-charge attitude. —Kayleigh Roberts
Haymitch: Well, obviously, the role should go to Charlie Sheen. Dude wouldn't even have to act. WINNING!
Effie: Ellen Burstyn has the perfect aristocratic, polished look to be a great Effie Trinket, along with the acting chops to give her character (who turns out to be more complicated than she seems at first glance) some depth. Plus, bonus: We'd get to see her do it all in a pink wig and crazy clothes. —Kat Rosenfield
Haymitch: Portraying Haymitch is a challenge, because his character is equal parts comic relief and conniving strategist. My absolute ideal would be Johnny Depp, but since he would likely drive production way over budget, I’d cast Jeremy Piven as District 12's sullen mentor. With "Entourage" wrapped, his schedule’s open right now, and he’s got the diverse acting experience to pull off this complex role.
Effie: Fan sites have been buzzing for months about Kristin Chenoweth, but I actually see someone more like Christina Hendricks playing Effie. Christina’s look is sultry yet innocent, which is a perfect contradiction to match Effie’s abrasive yet ignorant personality. Plus, despite their constant differences in opinion, I always pictured Effie and Katniss as physically seeing eye to eye; accordingly, Christina has a mere half-inch on Jennifer’s 5' 7" frame. —Jyll Saskin
Haymitch: I had every intention of being all "outside of the box" like with my pick for Haymitch, but really, Robert Downey Jr. is just too perfect to pass up for Panem's most infamous lush.
Effie: We already know 28-year-old Emily Blunt would have willingly undergone plastic surgery to portray 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, but how 'bout we give her a role that doesn't require Botox? I imagine Effie to be a the more upbeat version of Ms. Blunt's "Devil Wears Prada" grumpypants magazine assistant Emily—though I doubt you'd ever find any of her frocks in a Vogue closet. —Amy Wilkinson
Who do you think should play Haymitch and Effie? Sound off in the comments and on Twitter!
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