Who Should Play Haymitch in The Hunger Games?
With Lionsgate milking its casting announcement roll-out as much as possible (today's news: All My Children's Leven Rambin and Meg Ryan/Dennis Quaid progeny Jack Quaid are your new District 1 tributes, Glimmer and Marvel!) it's time to play the speculation game with one of the series' most important supporting characters: Haymitch. Which veteran actors could fill the Hunger Games winner-turned-alcoholic mentor's shoes?
Hugh Laurie
The House star is a running favorite among fans of the books and would make an ideal Haymitch -- surly, bitter, broken by life but not irredeemable as the only lifeline Katniss and Peeta have on the outside. The bad news: Laurie might not be available for the role even if he was to get it.
Robert Downey, Jr.
RDJ's another fave, thanks to his dry wit and ability to engender audience sympathy even when he's at his worst. And the abject horror of having lived through the Games himself would register in those deep, sad, soulful eyes. But could Downey Jr. fit the bill of the "paunchy" Haymitch while in his Iron Man/Sherlock Holmes shape?
Jack Black
Jack Black's comic skills could give the heavy subject matter of The Hunger Games a necessary levity, and goodness knows Black's career could use a change of pace. At 41, Black is also around the right age to play Haymitch, who won the Games 24 years prior.
Zach Galifianakis
The Bearded One would make an admittedly strange Haymitch, but so many of the right elements are there: He's technically about the right age, is kind of great when he hits unexpected dramatic notes, and would make Haymitch's fall-down drunk scenes at once sad, hilarious, and wonderfully uncomfortable.
Charlie Sheen
Loose cannon unpredictability? Check. Possessed of a deeply-felt bitterness that turns into near-poetic wisdom in unexpected moments? Yep. The ability to portray a man with out of control substance abuse problems struggling to rein in his personal demons? Yeah, he might be able to pull it off.
Have other suggestions for who should/could play Haymitch in The Hunger Games? Leave 'em below. Bragging rights to anyone who guesses correctly once Lionsgate unveils its casting choice.
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Comments
I hear you on the Jeffrey Dean Morgan, but here's my weird initial reaction to that idea: I think that JDM's too damn handsome. He'll steal all the romantic/sexual chemistry away from Josh Hutcherson and I'll end up rooting for Katniss to get with Haymitch. Too sexy for his own good. Am I crazy?
Exactly. Haymitch may have been a looker when he was younger, but he's not anymore. JDM is very handsome and sexy, IMO. And I'm sorry, Haymitch is not sexy!
An interesting factor in the Downey/Sheen suggestions is the way that they were present in the public eye twenty-five-ish years ago. I'd love to see The Hunger Games go for a sort of "Monty Clift/Judy Garland in Judgement at Nuremberg" effect in the casting, drawing upon what the audience knows about the actor and their former youth and beauty to inform the character. I'm not sure who else is still working who fits that bill - Andrew McCarthy? Judd Nelson? Kyle McLachlan?
That said, my favorite suggestion is Nick Offerman.
I'm still holding out for Josh Holloway - Sawyer from Lost. He just screamed Haymitch at me once I started reading the books!
Haymitch is fat, dark-haired and has oilve skin. How exactly does Josh Holloway scream Haymitch?
I like Hugh Laurie or RDJ, but when I read the book, for some reason I just pictured Haymitch as Adam Baldwin (Jayne from Firefly)
I'd be totally cool with Fillion as well
I say Timothy Olyphant. But maybe that's just me. When I think Haymitch I think him.
Jeff Bridges would make a great Haymitch Abernathy!
Ah, thanks bruv! Just when I thought I was out...they pull me back in.
Philip Glenister or Alan Rickman as Haymitch. Boo to Charlie Sheen, Jack Black or Zack Galifianakis.
Yes! I wouldn't have thought of him myself, but Timothy would be perfect.
Gerard Butler is my top pick too. He's perfect. We know from his performance in 300 that he can have ferocity about him, which as a HG victor, he would need. But he would also do the boozy and easily irritated aspect of the character well too. You know, the whole tortured soul thing.
Bruce "this is my boom-stick" Campbell. Make it happen Hollywood!
Tim Roth is my perfect Haymitch.
Sam Rockwell!
I have mentioned this to many friends and family. They think I am crazy but what about MEL GIBSON. I think he would be perfect. Especially dealing with the demons and training times.
Eddie Izzard, Ricky Gervais, Steve Coogan or Kenneth Branagh. There are a lot of actors out there who would make a decent Haymitch.
Hugh Laurie is the only way
No no no no no no no.
Steven Tyler
James Franco, or his really cute brother Dave
Ken Jeong
Cate Blanchett
Think outside the box, people!
When I picture Haymitch, the only person I think would be able to play him well is Hugh Laurie by far!
Why are people suggesting crazy actors like Ian McShane and the like. None of these suggestions would work at all, for the character from the book and for actors that would fit. For me, the first 2 that come to mind are a) Edward Norton or b) Woody Harrleson.
I do however agree that Zach G would be awesome, and Hugh Laurie would be able to mirror the Haymitch from the book
I think that it'll be John C. Reily. It's a once in a lifetime offer that he would ace.
I agree with the Mel Gibson comment. Lord knows he could pull it off. Second choices are Clive Owen, Kyle mclahlan and (long shot) Jeff bridges. I think rdj can carry the role but he has so many other huge movies coming up. Let somebody else get this huge opportunity
Richard Dean Anderson, obviously.
I see no one but Oliver Platt for Haymitch's role. He's got the right coloring and body type. I would totally believe he was a former victor turned drunk turned political operative.
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