Gary Ross defends Jennifer Lawrence's casting in THE HUNGER GAMES
Yesterday we reported that Jennifer Lawrence landed the coveted role of Katniss Everdeen in Gary Ross' adaptation of The Hunger Games based on the Suzanne Collins' popular young adult novels. Since this announcement many fans have been up in arms about Lawrence's casting.
Having not read the books, I am told that fans are upset for two reasons, Lawrence's age and appearance. The book’s focus on teenagers fighting each other to the death and by changing the age of the protagonist, an essential component of the story is lost. Everdeen is 16-years-old and Jennifer Lawrence is 20 going on 30. The studios plan is that by increasing the age that the violent subject matter of the books will be a hit for general audiences and increase overall box-office takes.
Fans are also unhappy with the choice of Lawrence because she looks nothing like the character. Even thought Katniss’ race is kept ambiguous, it is hinted at in the book that she could be biracial. The excerpt from the book below alludes to her race:
He could be my brother. Straight black hair, olive skin, we even have the same gray eyes. But we’re not related, at least not closely. Most of the families who work the mines resemble one another this way. That’s why my mother and [sister] Prim, with their light hair and blue eyes, always look out of place. They are. My mother’s parents were part of the small merchant class…
The films director, Gary Ross (Pleasantville, Seabiscuit) defended her casting and says it was “the easiest casting decision I ever made in my life”. Ross was recently interviewed by Entertainment Weekly and here is what the director had to say about Lawrence's age:
First of all, I talked to Suzanne [Collins] 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 quickly.
Here is what Ross had to say about her race:
Suzanne and I talked about that as well. There are certain things that are very clear in the book. Rue is African-American. Thresh is African-American. Suzanne had no issues with Jen playing the role. And she thought there was a tremendous amount of flexibility. It wasn’t doctrine to her. Jen will have dark hair in the role, but that’s something movies can easily achieve. [Laughs] I promise all the avid fans of The Hunger Games that we can easily deal with Jennifer’s hair color.
Ross had this to say regarding the controversy arround the casting:
I think one of the wonderful things about The Hunger Games is that everyone has such a personal relationship to the material that they feel they have a very specific idea about the character and who the character is. And that’s wonderful. And I think a lot of the debate that has gone on about who Katniss is is fantastic, because people feel very passionately that their take on the character is unique and correct. But the one that I’ve honestly listened to the most has been Suzanne, who conjured this girl out of her own imagination. To Suzanne, Jen is the perfect realization of the character who is in her head.
While I personally would rather see Hailee Steinfeld in the role, Ross's statements make complete sense. Feel free to check out the full interview at Entertainment Weekly.
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