One day. That's all that's left until the first "Hunger Games" footage premieres at the MTV Video Music Awards, airing Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
We've been doing anything and everything the past week to pass the time, and today we've decided to take a trip way back to 2010, when we still thought "The Hunger Games" would only be adapted into three movies and figured Jennifer Lawrence was off the table for the role of Katniss Everdeen because she didn't have brown hair. How naïve!
"The Hunger Games" turned out to be a bit different than we first thought it would be when it was optioned back in 2009. After the jump, we review a few movie rumors that didn't have the odds in their favor. Though they didn't come true, these misleading stories kept us guessing until they were disproved.
The Hunt For Katniss Everdeen
In case you haven't noticed already, we at Hollywood Crush are really excited about this movie and have been from the start. That's why we were all over every potential Katniss casting rumor floating around the internet, and even pushed a few of our own preferences. "The Vampire Diaries" star Malese Jow got our vote at first, but then young "True Grit" starlet Hailee Steinfeld slowly won us over, as well. Back then, it looked like Chloe Moretz was the lead contender for the role, though everyone from Jodelle Ferland to Emily Browning to Emily Blunt (sort of) was vying for the role. In the end, it was Jennifer Lawrence who ended up triumphing as our District 12 female tribute. And when we finally caught a glimpse of her with Katniss' brown locks, we were totally convinced that she was the one to wield a bow and arrow in the arena.
Liam Hemsworth Will Be Peeta...Right?
Wrong! Lionsgate threw us for a loop with their continued interest in Miley Cyrus' BF, Liam Hemsworth. After all, he is tall, blond and handsome, so how could he play anyone but Peeta in the adaptation? At least that's what we thought when he first spilled the beans to us that he had read the script and was likely to meet with director Gary Ross soon. That's why we were so surprised when "Bridge to Terabithia" star John Hutcherson ended up being cast as Peeta, and Liam landed the role of Gale. Much like Jennifer, the two "Hunger Games" men landed their own EW cover, leaving us to think Katniss may have a harder time picking between Peeta and Gale than the book series led us to believe.
John C. Reilly Could Have Been Haymitch
For the most part, "Hunger Games" rumors tended to come true in one form or another. Jennifer's name was always swirling around for Katniss, and we already explained how Liam had been a contender from the beginning. But the one rumor that came out of left field and never went anywhere is also one of our favorites: John C. Reilly being cast as Haymitch. The role ended up going to Woody Harrelson, which totally has us jazzed, but it's still fun to picture how "The Hunger Games" would play out with John as Haymitch. It certainly would have made for a very different movie.
The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards will air live Sunday, August 28 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
What was your favorite "Hunger Games" rumor? Are you looking forward to the exclusive first look at the movie at this Sunday's VMAs? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter!
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