'The Hunger Games': Who May Be Tapped for Finnick Odair, and New Director Sought for 'Mockingjay'

Busy, busy day on the Hunger Games front. We reported earlier that character actress Amanda Plummer had been cast in the Games sequel Catching Fire, where she’ll play Wiress. Now The Huffington Post claims that producers are zeroing in on their Finnick Odair.

Sam Claflin, according to HuffPo, has been offered the role though Lionsgate wouldn’t confirm or deny the report to the site. The English actor recently appeared opposite Johnny Depp in the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film, On Stranger Tides. He also played William in Snow White and the Huntsman earlier this summer, so he’s extremely comfortable in tentpole franchises. But until we hear official confirmation from a studio executive, we’re going to assume that Finnick remains uncast.

If, however, Claflin lands the gig, tell us: What do you think? Do you know enough about him to be able to tell if he’d be good as Odair? Or would you rather see somebody else in the pivotal Catching Fire role?

Speaking of “somebody else,” a report coming across our desk suggests that Lionsgate wants someone else in the director’s chair for the two-part Mockingjay, the series conclusion.

“Summit’s Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger, producers Nina Jacobson and author Suzanne Collins are currently vetting the right directors” for the back-to-back picture shoot, according to Anne Thompson.

It might not have anything to do with director Francis Lawrence’s work on Catching Fire – because he hasn’t done much yet! But the tight release schedule on the Mockingjay films means someone might have to get started before Lawrence is finished, so the studio is making sure it is prepared.

Follow along on Twitter @Sean_OConnell and @Fandango.

Tags: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay