UPDATE: Lionsgate, director Gary Ross and Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins have confirmed the news to MTV.
Back on Friday things looked pretty good for Jennifer Lawrence. Dual reports came out saying that the Winter's Bone actress was the frontrunner for the lead role of Katniss Everdeen in the adaptation of Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games, a movie based on a massively popular young adult novel series that is expected to replace Twilight once that franchise has run its course. But when those reports came out no offers had yet been made and no papers signed. That apparently has changed.
The Wrap is reporting from an unnamed source that Jennifer Lawrence has nabbed the starring role in the Gary Ross film. The film is set in a world where teenagers from twelve separate districts are forced to fight each other to the death in an arena. Despite her small stature, however, she has great hunting and archery skills that not only help her to compete, but to become a true contender. Lawrence beat out actresses including Hailee Steinfeld and Abagail Breslin for the role. While the details of the contract were not revealed, it's expected that she signed a multi-picture deal.
I said this when I reported the first story on Friday, but I will repeat myself: this is probably a mistake. In addition to looking absolutely nothing like the character - something that can obviously be changed - this movie is being planned as a part of a franchise and she is a 20 year old playing a sixteen year old. That may make no difference now, but by the time the trilogy is completed she probably won't be able to pass for a teenager anymore. What do we think, commenters? Is this good news or bad news?
