Haymitch Abernathy is a drunk.
He spends most of the movie inebriated, and when people take his booze away from him, he gets downright violent. Yet he's Peeta and Effie's advisor, being the only other person from District 12 who ever won the Hunger Games. As much as they don't like him, they have to trust him.
Why? In addition to being a survivor, he's a celebrity to the people in the Capitol. He can lobby the rich and powerful to send goodies to Peeta and Katniss. That can be the difference between life and death in the arena, and having been through it himself, he knows how important those goodies can be.
Initially, Haymitch looks like an alcoholic nitwit who cares only for the next bottle he's about to guzzle down:
KATNISS: So, why are you here, then?
HAYMITCH: Oh. The refreshments.
No mention of, you know, helping the kids who are about to go to slaughter? Not a great look, Haymitch. Having said that, we're inclined to cut old Haymitch a little slack. After all, he's been doing this ever since he won the Hunger Games himself, and every year he gets to meet two nice young people who subsequently die horribly within a few days.
Every. Single. Year.
That can wear on a guy, but because he's obligated to do this, he has to deal with it over and over again. So yeah, he drinks. We can't condone it, but we can at least see where he's coming from.
This time, though, Haymitch sees a glimmer of a chance in these two. (Or maybe he does it with every District 12 Tribute, we may never know.) He pushes them harder to earn sponsors, to behave in ways that draw their attention, and to otherwise do everything they can to make it through the Games.
He knows how to do this because he's played the game for years. Appearance is everything in this world, and being memorable is often more important than being tough. Look, for example, at the advice he gives Katniss on impressing the judges:
HAYMITCH: I don't know how else to put this: Make sure they remember you.
Then later, when Peeta confesses his love for Katniss on live TV, Haymitch jumps on it even though Katniss doesn't like the idea at all. Why?
HAYMITCH: Now I can sell the star-crossed lovers from District 12.
KATNISS: We are NOT star-crossed lovers.
HAYMITCH: It's a television show, and being in love with that boy might just get you sponsors which could save your damn life.
He's actually talking about power here. Katniss and Peeta are victims of this system: sent off against their will to battle to the death against Captain Steroids and the other killbots from Districts 1 and 2. As such, there's not a lot they can do about their situation. But if they can stand out on television, they become celebrities, and fame can get them the things they need.
No one knows how to play this game better than Haymitch, and he works overtime at it. It's a sick game, but he can play it with the best of them. As a result, Katniss gets some goodies that end up saving her life. While Haymitch may be an unbelievable pain in the butt, he's also perhaps their biggest ally in the Capitol.
That said…seriously dude, stick to iced tea.
In April 2011, Vulture reported on a scoop saying how the studio was interested in John C. Reilly for the part of Haymitch. It seems like a bit of inspired casting. Reilly had ample experience in comedies around that time, especially with roles in the likes of "Step Brothers" and "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story." However, he also showed off his more dramatic side while working with director Martin Scorsese in his films "Gangs of New York" and "The Aviator."
It was around this time that Reilly was also in consideration to star in "Oz, the Great and Powerful," but apparently, once the offer for "The Hunger Games" came in, those talks stalled. At the end of the day, Reilly didn't end up starring in either film for unknown reasons. Woody Harrelson got the part in "The Hunger Games" and wound up reprising the role for all three of its sequels.
Reilly hasn't done too poorly for himself over the years. He's starred in major blockbusters like "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Kong: Skull Island." Most recently, he appeared as Jerry Buss in "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty."
Woody Harrelson has signed on to star in 'The Hunger Games' as has-been warrior Haymitch Abernathy. In addition, the nameless District 10 'tribute' roles have also been filled.
While two more newcomers have signed on to play "tributes" in The Hunger Games, the bigger news is that Gary Ross' adaptation has filled one of the more pivotal adult roles: that of Haymitch Abernathy, a former winner of the titular gladiatorial competition. In the present, Abernathy is an alcoholic who spends his days training others to participate in the Hunger Games - aware that he is essentially sending them to their deaths.
John C. Reilly was previously rumored as a top contender to play Haymitch in the film, but an official offer was never made. Harrelson, as it were, was previously rumored to be in contention for the part of Gamesmaker Seneca Crane - a role that ultimately went to Wes Bentley instead.
Heat Vision has the scoop on Harrelson, whose Hunger Games character trains District 12 "tributes" (and protagonists) Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) - in the hopes that they could actually survive the deadly contest. In addition, the District 10 male and female "tributes" in the film will be played by stunt performer Jeremy Marinas (The Expendables) and newcomer Dakota Hood, respectively.
Once again, it's no surprise that either newcomers or stars with stunt experience are being cast as "tributes" in the Hunger Games movie, giving the physically-rigorous nature of the roles - and the fact that their characters meet a terrible fate in the film (hence why there are no name actors or actresses tackling those parts).
With regards to the casting of Haymitch Abernathy: While Reilly is an excellent and overall pretty versatile character actor, Harrelson arguably seems like the better fit to play the one-time warrior - based on both his more intimidating physical appearance and his tried-and-true wild man with a heart of gold screen persona (see Zombieland for an obvious example of that).
Here are the adult roles filled in The Hunger Games so far (for a list of the other District "tributes" cast up to now, go HERE):
While a lot of Hunger Games book fans probably have mixed feelings about the casting in the movie as a whole up to now, there's no denying that Ross and his filmmaking crew have assembled an admirable crew of character actors (and actresses) for the adult roles - and some solid talent to play the pivotal "kid" parts as well. The Hunger Games is pretty much a surefire blockbuster hit in the making, so it's nice to see that care is being taken with how Suzanne Collins' popular story is translated on the big screen.
The Hunger Games hits theaters on March 23rd, 2012.
Source: THR
Related Topics
- Movie News
- The Hunger Games
The odds were in their favor! While some stars fall flat after their big breaks, Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth have moved on from the Hunger Games franchise with success.
Based on author Suzanne Collins’ young adult books of the same name, 2012’s The Hunger Games, 2013’s The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, 2014’s The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1 and 2015’s The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2 blew up at the box office and became a constant topic of conversation in pop culture. The films follow a group of teens forced to battle for their lives in a dystopian world.
Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen), Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark), Hemsworth (Gale Hawthorne), Woody Harrelson (Haymitch Abernathy), Elizabeth Banks (Effie Trinket), Stanley Tucci (Caesar Flickerman) and Donald Sutherland (President Snow) made up the star-studded cast.
The costars quickly formed close bonds, especially the main trio. “The truth is, it was literally what everyone saw in all of our interviews together,” Hutcherson exclusively told Us Weekly in September 2020 of their friendship. “It was all of us being ridiculous children together, horsing around. I don’t know how we got any work done ever. I’m surprised the movies are good.”
The actor revealed that their connection remains, as they keep “in contact pretty closely” years after the franchise wrapped filming. “We always get together and see each other when we’re in the same place,” he explained. “There’s not a Hunger Games group chat. We’ve got a couple email threads that a few of us are on but we don’t have a group chat. I don’t think Woody has a cell phone so that makes it a little hard.”
Hutcherson, who “would love to play Peeta again” if given the chance, teased fans with a prediction about where his character would be in the present day. “It’s funny. ‘Cause we actually spitballed about [where the characters would end up] on set one day,” he recalled. “We were sort of talking about like … the Hunger Games and Peeta and Katniss are older and they have a kid and then the movie ends, but then what if we pick up the story and it’s like 10 years later and there’s a new rebellion that has to happen or something like that ended up.”
He added: “I’d like to hope and think that they are living happily and that the world is equal and lovely. But history is doomed to repeat itself. So I feel like there might be some more unrest that would come along.”
Scroll down to see where the cast of The Hunger Games is today.
1 of 9
Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen)
Lawrence quickly became one of the most sought-after dramatic actresses in Hollywood, thanks to roles in films such as Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle and Joy. She solidified her status when she won an Oscar for Best Actress in 2013. She has since starred in Mother!, Passengers, X-Men: Apocalypse and Red Sparrow.
The actress married art gallerist Cooke Maroney in October 2019. News broke in September 2021 that she is expecting their first child.
Credit: Shutterstock (2)
2 of 9
Josh Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark)
The former child star stayed busy with roles on Future Man, Red Dawn, The Disaster Artist and Ultraman. He also works as a producer.
Hutcherson has been dating his Escobar: Paradise Lost costar Claudia Traisac since 2013.
Credit: Shutterstock (2)
3 of 9
Liam Hemsworth (Gale Hawthorne)
The Australia native is a certified movie star. He has appeared in Isn’t It Romantic, Independence Day: Resurgence, The Dressmaker, Most Dangerous Game and Paranoia.
Hemsworth married his The Last Song costar Miley Cyrus in December 2018. However, they announced their separation less than eight months later. The two finalized their divorce in January 2020. The actor has since been linked to model Gabriella Brooks.
Credit: Shutterstock (2)
4 of 9
Woody Harrelson (Haymitch Abernathy)
Harrelson has had buzzworthy roles on True Detective, Now You See Me, LBJ, The Edge of Seventeen, Venom, Midway, Solo: A Star Wars Story and Saturday Night Live. He racked up Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe nominations too.
The actor has been married to Laura Louie since 2008. They share three daughters: Deni, Zoe and Makani.
Credit: Shutterstock (2)
5 of 9
Elizabeth Banks (Effie Trinket)
Banks is a multihyphenate these days as she acts in, writes, directs and produces her own projects. Her recent notable credits include Charlie’s Angels, Pitch Perfect 3, Power Rangers, Mrs. America and Press Your Luck.
The actress married husband Max Handelman in 2003. The couple are parents of two sons: Felix and Magnus.
Credit: Shutterstock (2)
6 of 9
Willow Shields (Primrose Everdeen)
Shields has continued acting on Spinning Out, The Unsettling, Into the Rainbow and Woodstock or Bust. She also competed on season 20 of Dancing With the Stars in 2015, becoming the youngest contestant ever at age 14.
Credit: Shutterstock (2)
7 of 9
Donald Sutherland (President Snow)
The actor starred in Ad Astra, Crossing Lines, Milton’s Secret, Ice, Trust and The Undoing.
Sutherland tied the knot with Francine Racette in 1972. He is a father of five: twins Kiefer and Rachel as well as sons Rossif, Angus and Roeg.
Credit: Shutterstock (2)
8 of 9
Stanley Tucci (Caesar Flickerman)
Tucci has worked in basically every genre with roles in Beauty and the Beast, Feud: Bette and Joan, Limetown, BoJack Horseman and A Private War.
The actor married Felicity Blunt in 2012. They share son Matteo and daughter Emilia. He is also the father of twins Nicolo and Isabel and daughter Camilla from his first marriage to the late Kate Tucci.
Credit: Shutterstock (2)
9 of 9
Lenny Kravitz (Cinna)
Kravitz appeared on Better Things and Star after The Hunger Games. He has also released albums titled Strut and Raise Vibration.
The musician, who has been in relationships with Lisa Bonet, Nicole Kidman, Adriana Lima and Vanessa Paradis in the past, is the father of daughter Zoë Kravitz, whom he shares with Bonet.
Credit: Shutterstock (2)