Yesterday we learned that newcomers Amandla Stenberg and Dayo Okeniyi have been cast as District 11 tributes Rue and Thresh (respectively) in the big screen adaptation of The Hunger Games. Previously we learned that Josh Hutcherson & Liam Hemsworth have been cast as Peeta and Gale (respectively) and Jennifer Lawarence has been cast in the lead role as Katniss Everdeen. Today we learn from Variety that actress Elizabeth Banks has won the role of Capitol bureaucrat Effie Trinket in the film.

Elizabeth Banks is in talks to star in “Hunger Games” as Effie Trinket, the flighty bureaucrat who wrangles the young death-match contestants to their fates, Variety’s Justin Kroll exclusively reports. Also joining the cast are Amandla Stenberg and Dayo Okeniyi, who will play Rue and Thresh. Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth are already attached as leads to the project based on the wildly popular books, which Lionsgate hopes will be Hollywood’s next “Twilight”-sized phenomenon.

Excellent, excellent casting. I don’t usually tend to have images in my mind of book characters that correspond with real life actors … but I can see how some actors turn out to be perfect representations of the characters I had envisioned in my mind. When I think of Effie, I think the the sparkle in her eye, the perfection of her hair and the sweetness of her face … all characteristics that Elizabeth Banks possesses. I think she will make an excellent choice for the role. I also loved the casting of unknown actors for the roles of Rue and Thresh. I honestly still don’t see Peeta in Josh Hutcherson (cuz my heart was set on the already blonde Hunter Parrish) but, overall, I am happy with the casting of The Hunger Games thus far. Are you? What do y’all think of Elizabeth‘s casting as Effie? There are still a lot of roles left to cast … who do you think will be next?

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