stephornyak: 'Hunger Games' Experts Weigh In: Who Should Play Peeta?

Monday, March 28, 2011

'Hunger Games' Experts Weigh In: Who Should Play Peeta?

Josh Hutcherson, Alex Pettyfer and Hunter Parrish appear to be the front-runners, but nothing is confirmed yet.
By Christina Garibaldi

Alex Pettyfer
Photo: Getty Images

Last week, MTV News exclusively revealed that Oscar-nominated actress Jennifer Lawrence landed the highly coveted role of Katniss Everdeen in the film adaptation of "The Hunger Games." Experts and fans were mixed on the thought of the tall, blond 20-year-old taking on the role of the 16-year-old, dark-haired heroine, but it seems like Jennifer can rest easy for now, since the debate has shifted to who will play fellow Hunger Games competitor Peeta.

"It's definitely going to be someone close to her age," Down With the Capitol administrator Theresa Morgan told MTV News. "I think it will make it easier to cast someone for Peeta."

Many names have already been thrown into the mix, including "The Kids Are All Right" star Josh Hutcherson, who confessed he has met with director Gary Ross. "I love Peeta," Hutcherson told Entertainment Weekly. "The character is so much who I am — self-deprecating, a people person. And he'd be such a great character to play!"

Hutcherson seems to be a front-runner for the District 12 male tribute, but he will have some stiff competition from Alex Pettyfer and fan favorite Hunter Parrish.

"We love Josh Hutcherson," the Hob administrator Megan Scott said. "There's Alex, who I really like, but Hunter is a huge fan favorite. When I think of these guys with Jennifer, they all go well together."

"Our whole site thinks Hunter will be perfect," Morgan said. "He looks the role and acts the role. A lot of people are thinking he sounds like Peeta."

Ross might agree, since Parrish recently told E! Online he has met with the movie's producers. "I'd be grateful to get the opportunity," he said. "Like, really grateful. It would be amazing."

Not everyone's convinced that these leading contenders are right for the coveted "Hunger Games" role.

"My favorite for Peeta is Callan McAuliffe," Mockingjay.net administrator Kimmy West said about the "I Am Number Four" newcomer. "I think he has the acting chops, he's relatively unknown, and he has that warm quality that Peeta has."

Who do you think should get the role of Peeta in "The Hunger Games"? Tell us in the comments below!

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