Earlier today it was confirmed Jennifer Lawrence will indeed play the lead role of Katniss Everdeen in Lionsgate’s adaptation of Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games. It wasn’t much of a surprise so I didn’t think it needed to be mentioned since that one sentence right there pretty much covers it and her involvement seemed pretty much a sure thing.
However, director Gary Ross (Seabiscuit) spoke with Entertainment Weekly about the decision, which is a bit more interesting than just a confirmation alone.
The obvious question came up regarding Lawrence’s age since she will be playing a character that’s 16-years-old in the book. As far as Lawrence being cast, I wasn’t in on the auditions so I have no idea what they were looking for or what she brought to the role, but I can’t say I necessarily agree with Ross’s comments on why they went for a 20-year-old instead of someone closer to the character’s age:
First of all I talked to Suzanne extensively about this. Suzanne saw every single audition. And not only did Suzanne not have an issue with Jen’s age, she felt you need someone of a certain maturity and power to be Katniss. This is a girl who needs to incite a revolution. We can’t have an insubstantial person play her, and we can’t have someone who’s too young to play this. Suzanne was incredibly adamant about this. Far from being too old, she was very concerned that we would cast someone who was too young. In Suzanne’s mind, and in mine, Katniss is not a young girl. It’s important for her to be a young woman. She’s a maternal figure in her family. She’s had to take care of Prim and in many ways her mother since her father’s death. She’s had to grow up pretty quick.
What Ross is talking about above has nothing to do with age, it has to do with maturity. The fascinating thing about the Katniss character is that she is only 16 and does “incite a revolution” and does have a “certain maturity and power.” She’s a 16-year-old with the maturity of a 20-year-old, which apparently he read as meaning a 20-year-old needed to play the part instead of finding a younger actress that could pull it off.
Perhaps there weren’t any actresses that fit the mold. I can understand that, I have no problem with casting the role the best way possible based on who auditioned. I’m just saying it seems like a strange interpretation of the character. At no point while reading the book did I envision a 20-year-old young woman, I saw a strong, mature 16-year-old girl.
I just wonder now if the character will be referred to as a 16-year-old or if they will be adjusting the narrative to make up for the ages of the actors involved.
Ross says Lawrence begins archery classes next week as the film is expected to shoot early summer for a March 23, 2012 release.
You can read the entirety of Ross’s review at EW right here.
