Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson top contenders for The Hunger Games

by Liam Goodwin on April 2, 2011 · 5 comments

josh hutcherson the hunger gamesLast week we got a list of the 9 young actors who were screen-testing for the roles of Peeta Mellark and Gale Hawthorne opposite Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games.

Now Deadline has word that the top contender for Peeta is 18 year old Josh Hutcherson (The Kids Are All Right), with Liam Hemsworth (The Last Song) the current frontrunner for the role of Gale.

liam hemsworth the hunger games

The Hunger Games is set in a future America which is divided into 12 poor districts that serve a wealthy Capitol territory. Once a year, each district submits a girl and boy as tributes to participate in life-or-death games.

Katniss is a young girl who volunteers to take the place of her sister, while Peeta is a boy from Katniss’ town who is also selected for the games. During the opening ceremony he reveals his unrequited love for her, and Katniss spends the rest of the story unsure whether the move was a survival ploy or a true act. Gale is Katniss Everdeen’s best friend and hunting partner, but becomes more in the second and third books.

Gary Ross (Seabiscuit, Pleasantville) is directing, and Lionsgate have set a March 23, 2012 release date, with production beginning this month.

  • julez

    Don’t want Liam as Gale, he doesn’t look like the part and not to mention he’s bad one note actor

  • ManthaS

    Liam won’t get the part and I don’t believe he’s a front runner…he didn’t even test for the part and the decision is being made on Tuesday. Also, I will be VERY disappointed if Josh gets the part…he doesn’t look it AT ALL. NO, thank you.

  • Asfdfljlk

    if they don’t cast hunter parrish…. i don’t even know what will happen….maybe the internet will explode?

  • Person

    okay so lionsgate hasnt confirmed this so u cant say their top contenders yet

  • Kaitlin65

    The movie better make good with Liam. The book makes him sound like he should look a little different. But who knows, maybe with a little hair dye, he could play Gale. But I think that Alex Pettyfer should be Peeta.