Your guide to the major Hunger Games characters in preparation for Mockingjay – Part 2
The Hunger Games are over, but the revolution has only just begun! On November 20, Lionsgate‘s The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 will bring the franchise to its conclusion as Katniss Everdeen and other fan-favorite Hunger Games characters attempt to bring down the corrupt government of President Snow while fighting for the very soul of Panem
Back in 2012, the first Hunger Games movie went a long way towards turning Jennifer Lawrence into a superstar and it became one of the most successful YA adaptations of all time. Some of the first Hunger Games have made it to the final chapter. Ahead of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, ComingSoon.net has put together a guide to the major Hunger Games characters who lived through the first three films in the series. Fair warning, there are spoilers up to the end of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1.
Hunger Games Characters: Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence)
Known to the people of Panem as “The Girl on Fire” and “The Mockingjay,” Katniss was an ordinary girl from District 12 who volunteered for the 74th Annual Hunger Games to save her sister. Katniss’ victory in the Hunger Games made her into an unintentional symbol of the rebellion against Panem’s oppressive government. In a bid by President Snow to destroy what she had come to stand for, Katniss was forced to reenter the Hunger Games and once again fight for her survival.
However, several of the previous Hunger Game Victors conspired to rescue Katniss from the Quarter Quell Hunger Games and she was delivered to District 13, the one area outside of Snow’s control. Realizing Katniss’ potential as the face of the revolution, District 13 used Katniss’ Mockingjay persona in a propaganda campaign to unite the people against Snow. In response, Snow has gone out of his way to destroy Katniss and District 13.
Hunger Games Characters: Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson)
Prior to the 74th Hunger Games, Peeta only knew Katniss from a distance…although he professed to love her from the moment he saw her. During their time in the Hunger Games, Peeta and Katniss became close and they threatened to commit suicide rather than harm each other when they were the last two survivors. Peeta and Katniss were declared co-winners of the Hunger Games, but they were forced to keep up the pretense of their relationship. Much to Peeta’s disappointment, Katniss did not return his romantic feelings.
When the Quarter Quell forced previous Victors to return for the 75th Annual Hunger Games, Peeta volunteered to rejoin the games to help Katniss, but she was more concerned with keeping him alive. In the chaos that followed, Katniss and a few of her fellow Victors were extracted from the games by District 13. However, Peeta was left behind in the custody of Panem’s government.
In the weeks that followed, Peeta was used as a propaganda tool against Katniss and viewed as a traitor by the people of District 13. However, Peeta did warn Katniss and District 13 of an incoming attack, which led to a hastily planned rescue mission. Although Peeta was successfully reunited with Katniss, he attacked and nearly killed her because of the mental conditioning and torture that he endured.
Hunger Games Characters: Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth)
Gale is Katniss’ best friend in District 12, and her frequent hunting partner. While Gale and Katniss appear to have romantic feelings for each other, their relationship is tested when she returns from the Hunger Games and she is forced to keep up appearances with Peeta. However, Gale remains loyal to Katniss and he helps her family survive when President Snow orders District 12 destroyed in retaliation for her escape from the Quarter Quell.
Although Gale is dismayed by the intensity of Katniss’ desire to save Peeta, he fights by her side in District 13 and he volunteers to go on the successful mission to rescue Peeta and the other victors who were held captive by Snow.
Hunger Games Characters: President Coriolanus Snow (Donald Sutherland)
President Snow is the ruler of Panem, and he comes to personally despise Katniss for her acts of rebellion against his regime. Snow is vindictive and quite possibly a psychopath who murdered and poisoned his way into power. And he has absolutely no problem with ordering the death of everyone in District 12 just to avenge himself against Katniss.
During Mockingjay – Part 1, Snow briefly speaks to Katniss and he taunts her before telling her that the things she loves will destroy her. Snow allows Peeta’s escape to take place, and his plan to make Peeta kill Katniss almost succeeds. But Snow’s regime has been weakened, and District 13 is still on the offensive as Mockingjay – Part 2 begins.
Hunger Games Characters: Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson)
Haymitch is a resident of District 12 who was the winner of a previous Hunger Games. Forced to become a mentor to Katniss and Peeta, Haymitch didn’t bother to hide his contempt for the process and he was constantly drunk. Over time, Haymitch grew fond of both Katniss and Peeta and his advice became more useful. During the Quarter Quell, Haymitch was a key player in the conspiracy to free Katniss and deliver her to District 13.
Although Katniss initially blames Haymitch for not rescuing Peeta as well, he is responsible for convincing District 13 to give Katniss more freedom to shape her Mockingjay persona for the propaganda campaign. And when Gale went to rescue Peeta, Katniss turned to Haymitch for emotional support when she thought that both Gale and Peeta were lost to her.
Hunger Games Characters: Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks)
Effie was the chaperone for District 12’s Hunger Games tributes, and she also grew fond of Katniss and Peeta. In a departure from The Hunger Game novels, Effie was also delivered to District 13 and she resumed her role as an adviser to Katniss in order to help herself and to ensure that the Mockingjay campaign was successful. Although it should be noted that Effie’s defection was not her own choice, and she only cooperated when she realized that it was in her best interest.
Hunger Games Characters: Finnick Odair (Sam Claflin)
Finnick is a Hunger Games Victor from District 4, whom Haymitch recruited as an ally for Katniss and Peeta in the Quarter Quell. Although outwardly arrogant and shallow, Finnick proves to be a loyal friend and he even saves Peeta’s life by using CPR. At the end of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Finnick is revealed to have been a key player in the plan to rescue Katniss from the games.
In District 13, Finnick remains close to Katniss and he even briefly takes her place for a propaganda broadcast as he exposes President Snow’s darkest secrets to distract the Capitol from Gale’s mission to rescue Peeta and the other captive Victors. At the end of the mission, Finnick is reunited with his lover, Annie Cresta (Stef Dawson), another previous Hunger Games Victor from District 4.
Hunger Games Characters: Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman)
Plutarch was the new Head Gamemaker for President Snow, and it was his idea to bring the previous Victors back for the Quarter Quell as a ploy to destroy Katniss’ image among the people of Panem before her inevitable death. But it was all an elaborate con by Plutarch and other rebels to deliver Katniss to District 13 as the face of the rebellion.
Unfortunately, Katniss lacked the ability to act in the way that Plutarch needed for the propaganda campaign to be effective. But once Katniss was allowed a greater freedom to speak for herself, the propaganda campaign worked almost exactly as Plutarch promised it would.
Hunger Games Characters: President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore)
President Coin is the leader of District 13, and the counterpart of President Snow. Coin initially clashes with Katniss over her unwillingness to ensure Peeta’s safety and rescue. But Coin eventually consents to Katniss’ demands and recognizes that Katniss is everything that Plutarch predicted that she would be. During the fateful mission to rescue Peeta and the other Victors, Coin even offers sympathy for Katniss in a private moment between them.
Hunger Games Characters: Beetee Latier (Jeffrey Wright)
A former Hunger Games winner from District 3, Beetee was an ally of Katniss and Peeta during the Quarter Quell. Beetee’s previous Hunger Games victory came because of his vast intellect, and he was loyal to Katniss and their fellow allies. Beetee was rescued from the Hunger Games with Katniss, but he apparently lost the use of his legs.
In District 13, Beetee uses his skills to further the cause of the rebellion and he ensures that Katniss’ propaganda videos are seen throughout Panem.
Hunger Games Characters: Johanna Mason (Jena Malone)
Johanna was allied with Katniss and Peeta during the Quarter Quell Hunger Games, and she was a previous winner from District 7. Like Finnick, Johanna was in on the plan to save Katniss, and she even took the opportunity to discreetly remove the tracker from Katniss’ arm, which enabled her escape. But in the aftermath, Johanna was captured by forces loyal to Snow.
During the mission to save Peeta, Johanna is also rescued and brought to District 13. She is only seen briefly in Mockingjay – Part 1 with her head shaved, but no less rebellious than she was before.
Hunger Games Characters: Primrose Everdeen (Willow Shields)
The younger sister of Katniss, Primrose was selected as District 12’s female tribute for the 74th Annual Hunger Games. Katniss volunteered for the Hunger Games only as a way to save her sister’s life. One year later, Primrose and her mother (Paula Malcomson) were among the handful of survivors from District 12 before they were reunited with Katniss in District 13.
Primrose’s biggest moment in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 came when she risked her own life to rescue her cat during a massive bombing assault from President Snow’s forces.
Hunger Games Characters: Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci)
Caesar was the Master of Ceremonies for the Hunger Games, but he came off as more of a talk show host. Caesar even seemed to have a fondness for Katniss and Peeta during their two Hunger Games appearances, but Caesar also serves as the voice of President Snow’s propaganda machine following the disastrous Quarter Quell.
In Mockingjay – Part 1, Caesar interviewed Peeta several times in videos that were designed to tear down Katniss’ image and discourage rebellion against the regime.
Hunger Games Characters: Cressida (Natalie Dormer)
Cressida is Katniss’ director during her propaganda appearances in various districts during Mockingjay – Part 1. Cressida and her camera crew escaped from the Capitol and joined the rebellion in District 13, where they use their particular set of skills to enhance Plutarch’s vision and make Katniss into a larger than life heroine.
