The Hunger Games: Catching Fire grabs up Sam Claflin as Finnick Odair

August 22nd 2012, 2:46pm

It seems like almost every day we get wind of a new actor/actress being cast in THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE, the sequel to the uber popular THE HUNGER GAMES. Today, Lionsgate released the official word that SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN actor Sam Claflin has been cast as Finnick Odair, one of the most high-profile roles for the sequel.

Here’s the press release:

Lionsgate and the filmmakers of THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE are pleased to announce that Sam Claflin has been cast in the role of Finnick in the much anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ worldwide smash hit novel Catching Fire. Charasmatic and clever, Finnick was a District 4 Hunger Games victor when he was fourteen.

After breaking out in his role as the romantic lead in last year’s PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES, Claflin starred in the box office smash 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.

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 sold more than 50 million books in print and digital in the U.S. alone.

Claflin has been jumping into a number of franchises since he burst onto the scene, with the aforementioned SWATH and PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES, so this is well within keeping up with tradition for the actor.

I stopped reading THE HUNGER GAMES after the first book, so my journey from here on out will be with the movies only, which means I can’t speak to how well Claflin measures up to rabid fan expectation. You guys will have to let me know.