New York magazine is reporting that actor John C. Reilly is in serious talks to play the role of Haymitch Abernathy in the big screen adaptation of The Hunger Games. According to the magazine, the role has been offered to him but his casting is not yet official. I, for one, think this is another case of brilliant casting! While I didn’t immediately think of John C. Reilly as Haymitch while reading the books, I can absolutely see how he could play the role perfectly. Read on for all the rumored deets about this reported casting.

Loaded question: Who plays a paunchy, pathetic drunk better than John C. Reilly? Actually, that’s a bit of a trick, because the answer, of course, is no one. And for that reason, we’re told it will be the Oscar-nominated Reilly who’ll be soon be getting the offer to play Haymitch Abernathy in the forthcoming adaptation of Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games at Lionsgate Films. If you’ve read Collins’s bestselling book, you already know that Abernathy is the only living person from Panem’s District 12 to ever win The Hunger Games, and now serves as a mentor, albeit an alcoholic one, to district tributes Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) … We’re also told that Reilly had been in talks to join Disney’s Oz, the Great and the Powerful as the sidekick to James Franco’s Wizard character, but that those talks had stalled; now we know why.

Altho this news is not yet official, I would be THRILLED if Reilly ends up with the role. He deffo has the look and absolutely has the acting chops to play the part. I am very pleased with the way the cast of The Hunger Games is turning out. Even tho I don’t agree with ALL of the casting thus far **cough** Hunter Parrish should be Peeta Mellark **cough** I am generally very happy with the way things are turning out and am SO excited about seeing The Hunger Games come to life on the big screen. What do y’all think of John C. Reilly as Haymitch? Is he the choice for you? If not, who would play the role better?

Any guesses which character casting we’ll be hearing about next?

[Source]