Sam Claflin Officially Cast As Finnick In ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’

Confirming what had been long speculated, Lionsgate has today officially announced that Sam Claflin has been cast in the role of Finnick Odair in ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,’ the much anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ novel ‘Catching Fire.’ Without giving too much away, the character of Finnick is another tribute, somewhat older than Katniss and Peeta, who is forced to participate in the games that occur in ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.’ Finnick, who was 14 when he was selected as a tribute, is one of the youngest to have won the Hunger Games. After breaking out in his role in last year’s ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,’ Claflin starred in ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ playing Prince William alongside Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth. He recently finished filming ‘The Quiet Ones’ opposite Jarred Harris, and ‘Mary & Martha,’ in which he co-stars with Hilary Swank.

For the sequel, Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth will reprise their roles as Katniss, Peeta and Gale, with Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Toby Jones, and Woody Harrelson also returning to their respective roles. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jena Malone, Lynn Cohen, Stephanie Leigh Schlund, Maria Howell, E. Roger Mitchell, Alan Ritchson, Bruno Gunn, Meta Golding and Amanda Plummer recently joined the cast.

‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark. Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a “Victor’s Tour” of the districts. Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever.

‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ will be directed by Francis Lawrence, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. The novel on which the film is based is the second in a trilogy that has over 36 million copies in print in the US alone. Lionsgate will release ’The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ on November 22th, 2013.  The third chapter in the “The Hunger Games” trilogy is to be split into two films. ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1′ will be released November 21th, 2014 with ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2′ following on November 20th, 2015. Ongoing casting news and information for ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ can be found at: www.CatchingFireCasting.com.