HEY LOOK, They’ve Finally Officially Announced Who’s Playing Finnick!
and let it be known
And, well, it’s exactly who it was rumored to be a month ago. Was that so hard, Lionsgate? You couldn’t have just announced it when the cat first came out of the bag? You really shouldn’t keep trying to stuff cats back into small enclosed spaces, PETA might get upset.
But, most of us expected but probably hadn’t fully accepted, it’s official: Sam Claflin is our Finnink Odair.
As it turns out, Lionsgate might have actually had an OK reason for not just getting it over with and telling us: After they initially decided they wanted Claflin, there was some sort of problem with an option the actor owed to another studio that brought up some scheduling conflicts; they had to wait until those were sorted out.
If you have no idea who Sam Claflin is: He was previously seen in Snow White and the Huntsman and Pirates of the Carribbean: On Stranger Tides.
If you have no idea who Finnick is: First of all, go read the books, what have you been doing with your life?? Second: Finnick was a victor from District 4 when he was fourteen, who is (SPOILER ALERT PROBABLY) brought back into the Quarter Quell Hunger Games along with Katniss and Peeta and a whole lot of other people. He enjoys swimming and shocking Katniss with his nudity; in Susana’s words, “he is the Magic Mike of the Hunger Games” (END SPOILER ALERT)
I get the feeling, after processing my own emotions (or “feels,” as they say) about this casting, as well as observing the outpour of opinions that came out over it when it was first rumored, that this isn’t going to sit well with some people. In my experience people react very strongly to the casting of crucial Hunger Games characters.
But as Finnick is known for saying, “it takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart.” So before you all fall apart in the comments, know this: I understand. He’s not exactly who you pictured. He’s not Hunter Parrish, or Garrett Hedlund, or Jesse Williams, or one of the other million personal headcanons people compile as they read. The fact that Tyler Hoechlin was up for the role but didn’t get it makes my recently-Teen-Wolf-converted soul cry, but we won’t get into that.
Finnick is one of the most beloved characters of the Hunger Games series; he’s fun, he’s frank, he’s sexy, and his story is tinged with multiple layers of tragedy. What more could you ask for? We’re sure Claflin will do a perfectly fine job. He’s dashing. If you love Finnick, you’re probably going to enjoy the character no matter who the name in the credits is.
As long as it’s not Nicolas Cage. Just be glad they didn’t cast Nicolas Cage.
(via Deadline)
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