Hamish is sometimes played by RDJ

Wow. I pretty much only picture W.C. Fields. Seriously. Though now that you say it, I can map RDJ onto Haymitch, more or less.

But then, I also somehow got it in my head that Peeta was all plump and pasty, like a teenage Hummel. And I just don't think he could have survived the games as well as he did (and I know, part of it was teamwork, but a lot of it was him kicking ass) if he were all round and soft. I think it was the idea that he's a baker's kid that made me think "oh, doughy!" Go figure.

RDJ as Haymitch works for me, because I can stereotype him easily. He's good at that. But I had imagined someone more over the hill than his fine prime self.

The part of Katniss is now played in my brain by Kaya Scodelario. I'll be so disappointed if she doesn't get cast in the film.

I'm amused that she's the popular choice since there's also a character named Effie. I haven't really got a picture of Katniss in my head, but she'll do.

I read the next chapter of Catching Fire and what the hell?? They're doing the Games NOW?? What about the rebellion? The revolution! District 13? YOU CAN'T DERAIL THE UPRISING WITH YOUR BLOODSPORT. Now I have no idea where the narrative is going.

Hamish is sometimes played by RDJ (and I think he'd nail it) but mostly he's still the way I imagined him as I was reading Hunger Games. If I were to cast that Hamish I think I'd go with Brendan Gleeson.

Ooh. Yeah. I don't know why I imagine Haymitch as more of a Brendan Gleeson shape than an RDJ shape, but that's my image of him. Gives him more of a washed-up, let-himself-go look. Haymitch is more Mad-Eye Moody than Tony Stark, anyway.

But I had imagined someone more over the hill than his fine prime self.

Huh, you know, I assumed he was really old too, but he's at most 41, since he was in the Games 25 years ago.

I think we were talking Hunger Games casting in the movies thread and someone mentioned RDJ and I said, "hey, OK." but yeah Gleeson for me, Fields for you, is a lot closer to the way he seems to be depicted in the books.

Peeta in my brain looks a lot like my first high school boyfriend. I can't think of a modern actor... oooh wait, that guy from Friday Night Lights... one sec, I'll find him... Jesse Plemons

But I had imagined someone more over the hill than his fine prime self.

Huh, you know, I assumed he was really old too, but he's at most 41, since he was in the Games 25 years ago.

But I think a District 12 age 41 is not like age 41 for us. I mean, in that it seems like life in District 12 ages the hell out of you, fast. And with the drinking (and drinking and drinking) that Haymitch does -- well, I guess that chronologically he can't be as old as I was picturing (dang, I was liking W.C. Fields), but I bet he looks and feels really fucking old.

Oh wow, 41? I was totally in a WC Fields place myself!

Or 43. I forget the upper limit of the reaping. But he's in his early forties. (Or late thirties, but I think Collins would have mentioned if he had managed to win when he was twelve or thirteen.)

Yep, he was 16 when he won. But I figured all that drinking.

Now Gale I have no idea. Three books in and I still don't have a firm image of him in my mind.

When you said FNL, I pictured Peeta as Jason Street and Gale as Matt Saracen.

Gale is dark and sort of wolfish in my head. Peeta is tall, sturdy, and sort of golden. (Egg wash from the bakery maybe?)

I can't see RDJ playing Haymitch, except for RDJ can pretty much play anyone he wants to, but I imagined a bit older, a bit more corpulent, and tired-looking.

I have no idea who should play Kat. Mostly I just need to finish the books, since I'm more than halfway through Catching Fire now. I want to see P-C's spoilerfont, but I'm afraid he's a little ahead of me.

Oh! And Effie is totally Delores Umbridge in my head, except the nice cupcakes and rainbows version.