Last week we reported on the shortlist for people auditioning for the male leads in hotly anticipated adaptation of the young adult novel, The Hunger Games, with numerous hot young actors vying to star alongside Jennifer Lawrence in the movie.
Josh Hutcherson (The Kids Are All Right, Journey To The Center Of The Earth), Alexander Ludwig (Escape To Witch Mountain, The Seeker), Hunter Parrish (Weeds), Lucas Till (Battle: LA, X-Men: First Class), and Evan Peters (Kick-ass) all tried out to be Peeta, while Liam Hemsworth (The Last Song), David Henrie (Wizards Of Waverly Place), Robbie Amell (straight-to-DVD Scooby Doo flicks), and Drew Roy (Falling Skies) were said to be in the running for Gale.
Now Deadline reports that producers have whittled it down and found their frontrunners, deciding they like Josh Hutcherson for Peeta and Liam Hemsworth for Gale. As yet, neither actor has officially signed on, although Deadline seems pretty confident offers will be made to the duo.
It’ll be good news for Liam if he does score the role, helping him keep up in the fame stakes with brother Chris, who’ll soon be taking over the world as Thor.
The Hunger Games is set in a future America in 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. Sixteen-year old Katniss (although it looks like they’re slightly upping the age for the films, as Jennifer Lawrence is 20) is a girl who volunteers to take the place of her sister; Peeta is a boy from Katniss’ town also selected for the games who, during the opening ceremony, reveals his unrequited love for her. Katniss spends the rest of the story unsure whether the move was a survival ploy or a true act. The Gale character teaches Katniss the way of the hunter and plays a bigger role in the subsequent trilogy.
Gary Ross will direct the film, which is currently set for a March 2012 release.