This weekend saw the long-awaited release of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1. We've broken down how the movie's different from the book that inspired it. We've explored the importance of Effie Trinket, the core of Finnick Odair and Beetee Latier. And we've dug into why Lionsgate was wise to split the Mockingjay novel into two films. But even with twice the runningtime, some elements of the book have been cut.
Last week, I sat down with Sam Claflin, who won our hearts in Catching Fire, and now breaks them in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1. It turns out, even though Finnick gets his big moment of scorning the Capitol with his carefully collected secrets, there was something the filmmakers cut out of his Part 1 plot.
So, there’s some things in the book that we haven’t seen translated into this movie. Finnick has a little more to do in the book that he does in this version of the first film. Were there scenes that were cut that you shot?
Sam Claflin: It’s difficult, because I’m not sure how much I’m allowed to divulge.
Because there’s a part 2?
Well, I know one scene in particular has been cut, but I don’t know how much I’m able to talk about it, if that makes sense. Because I don’t know if it will be in deleted scenes or DVD extras. So I don’t want to ruin it for other people, whether or not there will be a director’s cut and that will be included, you know? But there are definitely moments of mine and other people’s that of course, for the betterment of the film and the fluidity of the film, needed to be moved around or shifted or in fact taken out. And that’s fine, and having watched the film now and watching the edit, it makes sense.
I remember in the book, Finnick ties knots, which is part of his character in the movie, but he also gives a piece of rope to Katniss as a way of helping her cope. And that’s not something we see in the movie.
No, I don’t think they’ve sort of found the opportunity for that to happen, for example, because I think that’s a really important moment. You know, that is him saying, 'This is how I deal with it. I hope it helps.' And it is an important moment, but at the same time, book to film adaptations will always be slightly different. They have to alter things, for whatever reasons, and that’s the thing I’m still getting used to.
Did you guys shoot Finnick giving her the rope scene, or was that never...
No, we didn’t.
So Finnick had a scene cut from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1, but it wasn't that memorable moment from the book where he gives Katniss a bit of rope as a gesture of compassion and empathy. Quite a few of his scenes from the book have been usurped by Gale, like when he and Katniss watch Peeta's first interview, or when they go hunting together. So what could Sam Claflin be referring to above?
Give us your best guess in comments.
