"The Hunger Games" (POLL): Is Jennifer Lawrence right for Katniss?
Her acting prowess, which she showed off in "Winter's Bone," is not what's up for debate. But her age - and her looks - are what some are concerned about.
Pictures: Jennifer Lawrence
Lawrence cast as Katniss in "The Hunger Games"
After the casting news was announced Thursday, comments began pouring in on blogs and message boards. One complaint is that Lawrence is too old for the part.
At 20, she's hardly the first older actress to play a character in her teens. But, as Entertainment Weekly notes, that still means that if all three movies are made, she'll be 24 when the final film, "Mockingjay," wraps, and some fans think that is too old.
Another issue is the way Katniss is described in the books - with olive skin, gray eyes, dark hair. Some fans are concerned that Lawrence's blonde hair and blue eyes just don't fit the bill. But many an actor has transformed their looks for a role - and director Gary Ross already promised fans in an interview with EW that Lawrence will have dark hair in the film.
And then there's the idea of franchises. Lawrence is already tied to one series of films - she plays Mystique in the newest reboot of the X-Men series, "X-Men: First Class." If both that film and "The Hunger Games" do well at the box office, sequels will definitely be made, and that means a seeing lot of Lawrence on the big screen.
But regardless of what fans think, both the books' author and the film's director are secure in the choice.
"Jennifer's just an incredible actress," Collins said in a statement. "So powerful, vulnerable, beautiful, unforgiving and brave. I never thought we'd find somebody this perfect for the role. And I can't wait for everyone to see her play it."
And Ross told EW: "I absolutely cast the right person for the role and in my view there wasn't even a question who the best Katniss was. It was the easiest casting decision I ever made in my life."
So, what do you think? Do her acting skills outweigh concerns about her age and appearance, or should another actress have been cast? Vote in our poll and tell us in the comments.
